Chapter 14: Protection From the Shadows

"General, over here!"

Shen Qingwu, who was hiding in the tree to avoid social engagements, was called down by Yang Su — the attendant Bo Rong had assigned to her.

Yang Su seemed to come from a good family. He was handsome and adept at social interaction. He accompanied Shen Qingwu to pay her respects to the princess, solemnly handing her the gifts he had prepared beforehand and instructing her on how to speak to the princess.

"I've heard that the princess controls all the affairs of the court," Yang Su said, "and the young emperor listens to her in everything. Next year's military provisions will all depend on her."

"Bo Rong has never been to Dongjing and has never requested an audience with the princess," Shen Qingwu said.

"That's why the Yizhou army is not as strong as the Longyou army."

As he said this, he thought of the Longyou army, which belonged to the Shen family — and Shen Qingwu seemed to be... He glanced at her subtly. Shen Qingwu was looking down at the gifts he had prepared, clearly showing no reaction to his mention of the Longyou army.

Yang Su felt somewhat conflicted.

After being in Dongjing for a few days, he roughly knew that the general had not been well-liked in the Shen family.

His voice softened. "It's alright. You don't need to be nervous. If you make a mistake, Commander Bo will take the blame."

Shen Qingwu looked up at him strangely.

She was displeased at being underestimated. "It's just paying respects to the Princess, isn't it? Such a simple thing — I can do it."

Regardless of how much Yang Su distrusted this cold-faced and aloof female general, Shen Qingwu was always fearless and wouldn't give up until she hit a wall. She stood tall and strode confidently to visit the Princess.

Shen Qingwu glanced back at him, signaling Yang Su to leave.

Yang Su: "..."

He was amused by her, in spite of himself.

---

Shen Qingwu met the Princess in a pavilion.

The Princess seemed to have some social obligations and was changing clothes. But upon hearing that the General of the Western Garrison of Yizhou had come to visit, she still summoned her with a gentle smile.

Behind the flower table, sixteen bird and beast-shaped candles illuminated the screen, adorned with pearls and emerald feathers. Inside the quiet pavilion, five-colored tassels and eaves bells swayed gently in the night breeze, filling the room with delicate fragrance.

A woman's clear voice came from behind the screen: "General, there's no need for such formality. I know the army is arduous, and you are busy with official duties, which is why I haven't summoned you. It's not out of disrespect."

Li Lingge stepped out from behind the screen.

Shen Qingwu's gaze flickered slightly.

She had seen beauties like her cousin Shen Qingye and thought that most beauties in the world were like Shen Qingye. But Princess Andechang was different. This princess's makeup was exquisite, her hair styled in a cloud-like pattern — beautiful yet dignified.

Li Lingge's beauty was as grand as a magnificent palace.

It was a quality that most young women didn't possess.

Shen Qingwu sized up the princess. There were many legends about her in Tokyo. Some said she usurped and controlled the young emperor. Others said she was morally corrupt and disgraced the emperor. Still others said she was an innocent and naive princess in her youth, but alas, everyone grows up.

Her long dress billowed as Li Lingge sat down, her eyes sparkling. "Why is the general staring at me like that? Am I different from what you imagined?"

"No," Shen Qingwu replied. "Your Highness is even better than I imagined."

Li Lingge waited a long time but received no further reply. She stared at Shen Qingwu in surprise for a while, then smiled.

The two chatted about various things — mainly the princess's curiosity about how a woman lived in a military camp, why Shen Qingwu wanted to go to the military camp, and why she didn't join the Longyou army.

Shen Qingwu gave a brief and rambling explanation, which frequently amused Li Lingge.

Li Lingge sighed. "General, you are truly a heroine. There's hardly a second one like you under heaven. If only I could be as capable as you, venturing alone into the vast world — how wonderful that would be."

Shen Qingwu, unaware of her sentiments, replied: "If Your Highness wishes to go to the military camp, you may do so at any time. No one will stop you, will they?"

After all, she was a princess, not the young emperor.

Princess Andechang had already discerned that Shen Qingwu was not particularly cunning. She smiled slightly, offering no further explanation of her thoughts.

Li Lingge, tired from exchanging pleasantries for so long, said: "I know the general's purpose in coming, and I have accepted your gifts. However, this is only to reassure you — you need not bring such gifts next time. As a fellow woman, I understand the hardships you face in this world, and naturally, I will take good care of you. I hope that your career will flourish, and that you will not forget my humble and short-sighted nature, having long resided in the deep palace."

Shen Qingwu's eyes flickered.

Li Lingge blinked, wondering if Shen Qingwu couldn't tell she was urging her to leave. As Li Lingge pondered whether to be more explicit, Shen Qingwu suddenly looked up.

"As a woman myself, I naturally feel closer to Your Highness than other court officials. I know of Your Highness's favor toward me. Without Your Highness, I would have had a hard time dealing with the discussions about me in Tokyo and the impeachments from the Censorate. Although I'm new to officialdom, many members of the Shen family hold official positions, and I know the difficulties involved."

Li Lingge smiled, about to boast a bit more, when Shen Qingwu asked: "I want to ask Your Highness — since you didn't initially know I was a woman, why did you promote me? Bo Rong... Commander Bo said that someone like me wouldn't rise to prominence so quickly. How did Your Highness know of me before appreciating me?"

Li Lingge paused, her eyes flickering.

"Was there anyone else who recommended me to Your Highness, informing you that I was a woman, before Your Highness decided to use me?" Shen Qingwu continued. "Because I have no one else to rely on, Your Highness feels more at ease using someone like me who has broken with the Shen family."

Li Lingge paused for a moment. "Is this answer important?"

Shen Qingwu lowered her eyes. "Very important."

In the Mingtang Biyong Hall, the candlelight flickered.

Shen Qingwu looked up again, her expression still cold, but she already knew the answer in her heart. "Was it Zhang Yuelu who recommended me?"

After a long while, Li Lingge said coldly: "Yes."

Seeing Shen Qingwu's bewildered expression, and her long silence with her head down, Li Lingge explained further: "Zhang Xingjian and Kong Ye are at odds in the court, and he doesn't want you to be involved in either faction."

"At first I thought he was in love with you..."

The princess, impatient and glancing frequently at the passing night, said: "But what young man of the Zhang family has a heart for love? I only found out he was only looking after you because of Shen Qingye after he got engaged to your cousin. Your brother-in-law is quite a remarkable person. You must befriend him well."

---

As the night fog deepened, Shen Qingwu left the pavilion and walked into the long corridor, her steps swift.

Yang Su followed behind her. "General, wait... Shen Qingwu, why are you in such a hurry? Who are you going to see?"

Shen Qingwu walked in the shadows of the long corridor, the light and shadow of the leaves floating like algae on her face and at her feet. She walked quickly, heading toward the banquet ahead, the princess's ambiguous smile replaying in her mind.

Shen Qingwu wasn't one to overthink things.

But she wasn't stupid.

Li Lingge's words were only half-revealed, yet Shen Qingwu understood.

Zhang Xingjian and Prime Minister Kong were locked in a fierce power struggle at court. Zhang Xingjian neither wanted her to side with Prime Minister Kong nor assumed she would side with him. He had recommended her to the Princess, hoping she would be granted protection.

A general must know how to fight and command troops.

But a general can't just know how to fight and command troops.

Zhang Xingjian believed that Li Lingge's protection would make Shen Qingwu's role as general easier.

So now, everyone in the capital knew that Li Lingge liked Shen Qingwu and wanted her to be the general.

No one knew that Zhang Xingjian had been behind it all.

An unfathomable figure, Shen Qingwu thought. Was it because she was his savior, or because she was Shen Qingye's sister?

"General!"

Yang Su's voice approached from behind. Shen Qingwu walked to the end of the corridor and was caught off guard by the magnificent banquet before her — the singing and dancing on the stage.

What caught her even more off guard was seeing him under the palace lanterns by the lake.

Zhang Xingjian was with a group of officials, surrounded by several dancers and singers. The other men were all staring at the beauties, while the handsome and clean-cut young man simply talked and smiled at them.

His gaze was always gentle, as if it were filled with deep affection — though he probably looked at cow dung with the same intensity.

His cleanliness and elegance won him the favor of the ladies, and the dancers subtly approached him. He just smiled, absent-minded.

The soft moonlight shone on him.

In a ray of light, he stood quietly by the water, merging with the moon — serene and pure, devoid of emotion or desire.

"Shen Qingwu, what's wrong with you? This isn't a place for fooling around!" Yang Su finally caught up with her, his voice slightly louder from panting.

Zhang Xingjian, who was talking to someone, heard "Shen Qingwu," and his smiling face lifted, glancing casually in their direction. This was his usual action — he would glance at her and then look away.

But this time, he saw Shen Qingwu staring intently at him.

Zhang Xingjian was startled.

Through the dim palace lanterns, he saw her eyes like icy swords, her gaze fixed on him with a chilling intensity. Beyond the chilling intensity, there was a desolation deep within her eyes — a mixture of anger, grievance, and perhaps... confusion.

Zhang Xingjian's jaw tightened. His hand gripped the wine cup.

He wondered: What's wrong with her? What problem has she encountered? I should have solved it for her by now. Or have I offended her again?

Stared at by Shen Qingwu's murderous gaze, Zhang Xingjian felt lost and hesitant: Should I show more concern? If I show more concern, will it be bad if she misunderstands?

The candlelight flickered. The night wind was desolate. A single yellow leaf fell. Across the sea of people and the sounds of music, the two silently gazed at each other.

Shen Qingwu stopped on the steps before the long corridor, her gaze suddenly flickering.

Zhang Xingjian was looking at her, deep in thought. A dancer offered him a cup of wine, which he had initially refused — but now, distracted, he accepted it and drank it down in one gulp.

His rosy lips, wet with water, resembled peach petals.

The dancer's eyes brightened slightly.

Ancient, dark cypress trees lined the corridor. The moonlight was like water. Shen Qingwu's expression changed drastically.

She remembered who the dancer was. She knew who the unfortunate man who had been drugged was. From the princess's earlier actions of changing clothes behind the screen and the princess's slightly impatient tone when speaking to her, she suddenly understood what was going on.

The princess coveted Zhang Xingjian and wanted to possess him.