Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

Shen Mingsu didn’t know how she recognized him, but the name slipped out of her mouth, unconsciously tinged with surprise. “Flower thief?”

The man rolled over to sit up and looked at her with displeasure. “Flower thief? Can’t I have a proper name?”

“Sorry,” Shen Mingsu said politely, then asked, “How does the young master prefer to be addressed?”

“Wu Guan.”

“Young Master Wu Guan,” Shen Mingsu cupped her fists in greeting, “I am Jiang Shijin.”

Wu Guan’s gaze swept over her. “Are your wounds all healed?”

“Yes.”

“Your flower debt is quite serious, then. You must have suffered a lot,” Wu Guan said sympathetically. “You were unlucky. If you’d been just a little later, you wouldn’t have had to endure all this.” Suddenly, he leaned in confidentially. “Do you know who came that night?”

Shen Mingsu shook her head. “Do tell.”

“Feng Zhongyan,” Wu Guan explained as if she wouldn’t know. “The prime minister, head of the Ministry of Personnel, known as the Iron-faced Yan Wang. That very night, he surrounded the Jingzhao government office. The prefect of Jingzhao was stabbed in the hand, a huge gaping wound. Terrifying, right?”

Shen Mingsu laughed softly. “That does sound scary. How did you get out, Young Master Wu Guan?”

“I learned a few tricks. Seeing you beaten like that scared me, so I ran off early.”

“You’re modest, Young Master Wu Guan. Escaping from the government office’s dungeon is no small feat,” Shen Mingsu smiled. “Are you free today?”

“Shijin, inviting me for wine at the brothel?”

“Forget the wine. You just escaped from the dungeon—lucky to be alive—I’d rather we drink tea.”

Wu Guan reluctantly nodded.

They found a nearby teahouse.

Shen Mingsu poured tea for him respectfully and pushed it toward him. “Please, Young Master.”

Wu Guan sipped, then looked at her and asked, “You spent the whole afternoon in the brothel—is that because you were looking for me?”

“You’re sharp,” Shen Mingsu admitted. “I do have something I want to borrow from you.”

Wu Guan looked puzzled. “We only met once in the dungeon. What could I possibly lend you?”

“You’re modest, Young Master Wu Guan. That night, I saw you pick up something,” she said precisely, “or rather, you swiped it. When the deputies were taking me away, you stood up to stop them and took their waist token.” Seeing his expression turn serious, she continued, “You must know, before sentencing, the Jingzhao government has no right to inflict punishment. I was whipped three times without cause, nearly died. I need to know who wanted me dead.”

“You have a keen eye, Shijin,” Wu Guan looked at her meaningfully. “But didn’t you say it was a flower debt?”

Under the dim light, two faint dimples appeared at the corners of Shen Mingsu’s lips, a subtle smile. “Don’t laugh, Young Master. The flower debts are quite numerous.”

Wu Guan chuckled softly. “Agreed, but you can’t borrow it for free.”

“Please, speak.”

Wu Guan leaned forward slightly, his peach blossom-shaped eyes beneath the mask fixed on her. “I just escaped from prison, nowhere to go. Can I borrow a place to stay?”

Shen Mingsu’s expression froze; she met his gaze without a word.

After a moment, Wu Guan sighed in disappointment and left briskly. “Thanks for the tea, Shijin.”

At the door, Shen Mingsu called after him, “Young Master, if you don’t mind my humble courtyard, please come in.”

—

To investigate the whereabouts of Yue Yao, shortly after arriving in the capital, Shen Mingsu rented this small courtyard. She sang shadow plays on the street and lived alone. It was only a temporary residence, very small, with just three rooms.

The central room was the main hall, with one room on each side.

She lived in the room on the right; the other room remained unused, always empty.

Shen Mingsu led him inside and pushed open the door that had never been opened before. A thick smell of dust hit them; she covered her sleeve and stepped back, making way for Wu Guan. “Please, Young Master Wu Guan.”

Wu Guan also stepped back, bluntly saying, “It is indeed shabby.”

That night, Shen Mingsu had no intention of dusting for him, and Wu Guan’s pristine white clothes clearly did not want to get dirty either, so he took her cot in the courtyard outside.

The spring rain made the night chilly. Shen Mingsu took a mattress from her bed and gave it to him. “Will you show me the waist token now, Young Master?”

“It’s not with me. I’ll give it to you tomorrow.”

Shen Mingsu turned to enter the room. “Rest early, Young Master.”

“This is our first time together, and Shijin won’t even properly entertain me?” Wu Guan called after her.

“No wine,” Shen Mingsu turned with an apologetic look. “No tea either.”

“You’re really poor.”

That was true. When she arrived in the capital, she came empty-handed and disheveled, entering the Feng household in a sorry state. Now she was no longer disheveled, but still empty-handed.

Yet, such words should not have come from someone dependent on others.

Seeing the meaning in her eyes, Wu Guan laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ll earn money. I won’t stay for free.”

Making a living these days wasn’t easy. Shen Mingsu sighed in relief. “That’s good.”

Wu Guan suddenly pointed to the half-carved sheepskin under the eaves. “You do shadow plays?”

Shen Mingsu nodded.

He glanced at some herbs drying in the thatched shed. “Doing shadow plays alone is tough. Selling medicine might make more money. Your anesthetic bag works better than what I buy at the clinic.” He looked up and asked, “Does your family run a clinic?”

Shen Mingsu didn’t answer, instead asked, “Young Master Wu Guan, are you trying to dig into my ancestors tonight?”

“Living under the same roof from now on, I should know if you’re a good person.”

Shen Mingsu smiled. “Don’t worry, a good person wouldn’t take you in, and you wouldn’t go looking for a good person.”

“Aren’t you afraid?”

“What is there to fear? All the schemes and plots in this world ultimately come down to a single life. Do you want mine?” The sky was clear; stars shone gently, casting faint silver light on her face. Her eyes were calm and desireless, betraying no fear.

Wu Guan looked at her for a while, then laughed. “Shijin, you jest...”

“Then I’m not afraid.”

Night had fallen. Shen Mingsu returned to the room to fetch a wooden box. When she came out, she saw him reclining leisurely on the cot, resting his head on his arm, gazing at the stars. He was right—doing shadow plays alone was exhausting. She needed a helper. She took down the copper gong from the dusty corner, blew off the dust, and handed it to him. “You want to earn money, so help me strike the gong.”

“That might not be...” he hesitated.

“You have nowhere to stay, and I imagine your money for wine is all spent. This small courtyard is shabby, but I still have to pay rent monthly. If I can’t, you’ll have to find another place.”

—

The shadow play stall was also rented by Shen Mingsu. The shop was small, only half a room, sharing rent with a tea merchant.

Now that the tea merchant was away collecting tea elsewhere, Shen Mingsu had the whole place.

The curtains were drawn, the lights adjusted, and the play was about to begin. Young Master Wu Guan sat beside her, staring at the copper gong in his hands, looking lost. “How do I play this?”

“Play it as you feel.”

“What will you perform?”

“The White Bone Spirit Revealed.”

Wu Guan looked at her thoughtfully.

Shen Mingsu didn’t do it on purpose. The shadow puppets of Guan Yu had been destroyed by Rong Xiu; she only had this set left.

“What demon dares mock me, Old Sun, I’ll strike you down with my cudgel...”

The audience watched the shadow screen, but Wu Guan watched her. The thin, comical tone that emerged was nothing like her usual voice, yet somehow eight parts convincing. If he hadn’t been sitting right next to her, he wouldn’t have believed the voice came from her.

Seeing him frozen, Shen Mingsu nudged his elbow lightly, whispering, “Young Master Wu Guan, you can strike now.”

“Clang...”

“Demon, today Old Sun must tear off your skin...”

Wu Guan raised an eyebrow and struck the drum hard. “Clang~”

Shen Mingsu turned to him with a smile full of praise. “Yes, just like that.”

Usually, Shen Mingsu played and sang alone, but today, with the gong accompanying her, the crowd grew lively.

Cheers erupted, and among the many spectators, one’s applause stood out. “Good, very good singing!”

Wu Guan turned his head toward the curtain.

It was a young nobleman, dressed in brocade robes and jade belt, wearing a mask like Wu Guan’s.

When the play ended, the young nobleman eagerly approached, poking his head through the window, warmly greeting, “Shijin, you’ve finally come. I’ve been waiting here half a month, thought you wouldn’t come and felt heartbroken every day...”

Noticing Wu Guan beside her, he paused. “Brother, a fellow man of the arts!”

At the night market, all kinds of people gathered. Wearing masks meant hiding one’s identity. The wise never asked, nor were they curious whether the person behind the mask was human or ghost.

Shen Mingsu smiled and greeted, “Shiquan.”

Wu Guan stood up. Shiquan glanced at the gong in Wu Guan’s hands and understood, taking the purse from his waist and placing it on the table. “Brother Shijin should have hired someone long ago. After hearing your shadow play, nothing else captures my attention. Is there still a Guan Yu beheading today?”

Shen Mingsu thought to herself that this man was strange—he never had the heart to behead Guan Yu but still loved to listen.

“The puppets are broken. Probably no more shows recently. They’ll have to be carved anew.”

“No worries, I’m not in a hurry. I’ll wait for you, Brother Shijin.” He didn’t leave but waited until Shen Mingsu packed up, then came close. “Shijin, do you have time to spar again?”

He squeezed Wu Guan to the side as he spoke.

Wu Guan didn’t mind, but kept his eyes on the brocade purse on the gong.

Shen Mingsu asked, “Shiquan, who do you want to spar today?”

“Guan Yu.”

Shen Mingsu: ...

—

Late at night, silence reigned. Inside the palace gates, the solemnity and clamor sank into the darkness. Along the winding palace walls, a few figures hunched their bodies, stealthily making their way through the lantern shadows.

They reached a low gate. The guards inside heard the movement and breathed a long sigh of relief, holding up their lanterns to greet them. “Your Highness has returned.”

Only then did the young nobleman straighten his waist, seemingly in good spirits tonight. “Today was truly exhilarating.”

The palace attendants smiled behind him, reminding, “Your Highness should rest early. Tomorrow you must attend the academy.”