Chapter 130: If You Want to Leave, Just Leave
Chapter 130: Chapter 130: If You Want to Leave, Just Leave
All the decrees issued in the city these past few days had been implemented without a word to him.
Worse, as the Prefect, he still hadn’t even met the man in person.
It was so absurd no one would believe it.
Even when the Emperor himself made an appearance, the pomp was hardly any greater.
This was only possible because it was Prince Yu. Had it been any other Prince, who would dare to seize control of a city with his troops without so much as a word of notice?
The memorials from the Imperial Censorate alone would have been enough to bury him.
Accusing him of treason wouldn’t have been an exaggeration.
Mr. Qian sighed forlornly. "I never would have dreamed that a small city like Pingzhou would be graced by Prince Yu’s personal command."
And he, the city’s magistrate, couldn’t even find an opportunity to make himself a familiar face.
It was truly lamentable.
At this, he couldn’t help but look toward Shen Tingyu, who also hailed from a noble family in the Capital City. "I wonder if Mr. Shen has a personal relationship with Prince Yu?"
The great clans of the Capital City had intermarried for generations, their interests and relationships a tangled, intricate web. The same was true even for the Royal Family.
’If they had a personal connection, perhaps he could help with an introduction.’
Shen Tingyu was refilling Cui Lingyao’s cup. Hearing the question, he replied without a change in expression, "We’ve met a few times, but I wouldn’t call it a personal relationship."
Mr. Qian couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
The next True Dragon Emperor was personally overseeing his jurisdiction, yet he, the local magistrate, hadn’t even had a chance to meet him, let alone demonstrate his capabilities.
The conversation that followed centered on the major events that had occurred in Pingzhou City over the last few days.
Xie Jinbai’s methods were airtight, and his security was like an iron fortress. No one knew how exactly the Qiang Clan spies had been dealt with.
No one even knew if they had all been rooted out.
The only thing certain was that the city gates would open tomorrow.
Such swift, iron-fisted tactics, revealing the allure of power with a mere wave of the hand, made the hearts of the officials present, who had already begun their careers, surge with excitement.
As the highest-ranking official in the Pei Family, Third Master Pei’s face was filled with yearning. "If I could serve His Highness, it would make all these years of studying the classics worthwhile."
Magistrate Qian picked up his teacup and smiled without a word.
’He was filled with contempt.’
’If he hadn’t heard that Eldest Young Master Shen was present, he wouldn’t have deigned to visit this down-on-its-luck Pei Family today.’
’It was only thanks to Eldest Young Master Shen’s presence that these two "masters" of the Pei Family, with their great ambitions but little talent, were even qualified to drink tea at the same table as him.’
’He himself couldn’t even get an audience with Prince Yu, yet someone like Third Master Pei dared to dream of serving under His Highness.’
’Simply laughable.’
The men at the table chattered on, while the women never interrupted. They would simply refill their husbands’ cups with hot tea from time to time, their postures demure and virtuous.
Cui Lingyao also remained silent the entire time, cradling her porcelain cup and quietly listening as they frequently mentioned "Prince Yu," her expression unchanging.
Shen Tingyu, for his part, didn’t even raise his eyes, his attention focused solely on caring for the young woman beside him.
After refilling her cup for the third time, he stopped her, gently taking hold of her hand as she went to lift the cup again. "You shouldn’t drink too much tea, either."
"Alright." Cui Lingyao obediently set down the porcelain cup.
She struggled slightly, trying to pull her wrist from his grasp.
The wrist in his palm was slender and delicate, cool as jade. Shen Tingyu’s brow furrowed slightly. His fingers tightened for a moment before he slowly released his grip.
Another autumn breeze swept past.
The sun was setting, and the temperature was dropping quickly.
The young woman beside him was thinly dressed and clearly uncomfortable sitting out here.
Without further hesitation, Shen Tingyu pulled her to her feet and took his leave of the group. "Please, continue your conversation. We will be taking our leave."
’Spending half the afternoon here was more than enough to lend the Pei Family some prestige.’
His departure was so sudden that it startled Magistrate Qian and the others for a moment, but they all rose to see them off.
Shen Tingyu exchanged a few polite words, then left hand-in-hand with Cui Lingyao.
The moment they were out of everyone’s line of sight, he looked at the young woman beside him. "Why did you stay out there? The wind was so strong. If you wanted to leave, you should have just left."
’Her surname was Pei.’
’This was her home.’
’In a situation like that, if a young lady like her wanted to excuse herself, who would dare to find fault?’
’But the silly girl actually sat there with the other matrons.’
’If he hadn’t suggested they leave, she would have just kept sitting there.’
It was the first time she had heard him use such a tone, and Cui Lingyao was a bit stunned. She explained in a small voice, "I just felt that it would have been rude to suggest leaving first."
"After all, I came with my two aunts, and two of my paternal uncles were still seated at the table."
"The Pei Family was treating Mr. Qian and his wife as honored guests."
"Since I, a junior, had already joined the gathering, to suddenly suggest leaving would seem petty and graceless."
Shen Tingyu stopped in his tracks, frowning. "Those are not things you should have to worry about."
He instructed her earnestly, "Regardless of the situation or the people involved, if you feel uncomfortable, you don’t need to concern yourself with the ’bigger picture’."
’He believed that neither he nor that other person would ever want to see this young woman swallow her grievances and compromise.’
’Especially not at the expense of her own health, just to ’preserve the bigger picture’.’
"Have you forgotten that your health is delicate? Until you’ve fully recovered, you must be careful in all things."
"Even a simple cold could cause you serious harm."
"A young woman’s constitution is especially fragile. The slightest carelessness can deplete her vital energy, so it’s even more important to be properly cared for."
She hadn’t felt any discomfort recently, so Cui Lingyao had completely forgotten that she had been drugged with the seductive powder.
His reminder made her remember. Seeing how solemn he was, her heart jumped, and she said quickly, "I’ll remember. From now on, I will put myself first."
Hearing this, the tension in Shen Tingyu’s expression eased. "That’s how it should be."
The two of them returned to her courtyard.
This time, Shen Tingyu did not stop outside the courtyard but followed her inside.
They sat down in the main hall.
The moment they were seated, Shen Tingyu reached over, took her wrist, and placed three fingers against it to check her pulse.
He had checked her pulse before, and it had only taken the time to drink a cup of tea. Cui Lingyao assumed this time would be no different.
Unexpectedly, this session lasted so long that her wrist began to ache.
They were very close, separated by only an arm’s length, each able to hear the other’s breathing.
The faint scent of bamboo and ink filled her nostrils with every breath. Cui Lingyao held her breath and stared at the man before her.
Shen Tingyu did not look up at her, his eyelashes lowered as he focused intently on her pulse.
His fingertips rested on her pulse. He seemed to have encountered some difficulty, as his brow furrowed slightly. He suddenly pressed down harder, trying to get a clearer reading.
The pressure was a bit painful, but seeing his expression, Cui Lingyao didn’t dare to speak and disturb him.
The days in autumn were shorter than in summer, and the nights longer.
It had been dusk when they returned, and as he took her pulse, the world outside had already grown pitch-black.
The candlelight in the hall flickered, and the air seemed to grow still. Cui Lingyao’s heart began to pound.
’I was only in the wind for a little while. Judging by his expression, you’d think I’d contracted some rare and complicated disease.’
After a long, long time, he finally let go of her wrist.
Cui Lingyao let out a breath and was just about to speak when the man before her said, "Your other hand."
Without waiting for her to react, he took her left hand and continued checking her pulse.
Cui Lingyao: "..."
She was truly starting to panic and couldn’t help but ask, "What’s wrong with me? Is my pulse weak?"
Shen Tingyu glanced up at her. Seeing her panic, his gaze instinctively softened. "Don’t panic. Just let me finish."