Song Chuyi reached out her hands to warm them over the brazier, acting as though she had not seen Zi Zhao’s plea for forgiveness.
Zi Ya watched Zi Zhao lying prostrate on the ground, and her tears flowed even more violently. After a moment of stalemate, she finally set aside her pride that no longer belonged to her and knelt down beside Zi Zhao. “I know my mistak. Please punish me.”
Had the words Zi Ya spoken earlier been heard by true nobles, she would long ago have been dragged out and beaten to death with clubs.
Song Chuyi did not place herself on such a high pedestal, yet she could not tolerate being casually accused by others either. She leaned sideways against the armrest, lowered her eyes to look at her own hands, and said slowly, “You were once noble daughters yourselves. You should know what crime those words just now constitute, don’t you?”
Zi Ya’s heart suddenly lurched, and cold sweat instantly broke out on her forehead. Zi Zhao was anxious at heart, but since Song Chuyi had not yet stated how they would be punished, it was not appropriate for her to immediately plead again.
“Let me tell you a story.” Song Chuyi said with keen interest, “There was a farmer who, in the ice and snow, picked up a poisonous snake that had frozen stiff. Feeling pity in his heart, he stuffed it into his clothes to warm it. The snake came back to life, realized it was somewhat hungry, and without hesitation bit the farmer in the chest.”
Zi Ya’s body was drenched in cold sweat. Even though her words had not materially harmed Song Chuyi, her behavior was indeed no different from that of a poisonous snake.
“I am not telling this story to accuse Zi Ya.” Song Chuyi’s words were beyond both their expectations.
Immediately after, they heard her say, “You may not yet understand me very well. I, Song Huaijin, have never been one to pick up a snake and tuck it into my clothes. I also never force anyone. If we can part on good terms, I have not the slightest objection. But whoever wants to bite back, I will not let them have a good end, whether they flee to the heavens or hide in the earth. I give only one chance… but you must firmly remember that sometimes a single careless word, a single willful thought, can plunge a person into eternal ruin. Everything I say is without a single wasted word. I hope you will keep it firmly in your hearts.”
Song Chuyi’s voice was incomparably gentle, yet for no apparent reason it carried a murderous chill, causing the two of them to involuntarily hold their breath. “I will firmly remember it in my heart.”
Song Chuyi did not want to let the matter pass so simply either, but in two days they would set out for Qin. If she tormented her until she had a broken arm or leg, it would be inconvenient to bring her along on the journey.
After saying this, she rose and returned to her bedchamber.
Zi Zhao let out a breath of relief. “Ya, the gentleman is an upright and honorable man. Even though following him is far inferior to when we were noble daughters, it is still much better than wandering outside with no security from one day to the next.”
Zi Ya pressed her lips tightly together. She had been born a noble daughter, and nobility was carved into her very bones. Zi Zhao was the same, except Zi Zhao could endure and could let go, while she could not.
“Ya, if you are unwilling, then I will leave with you.” Zi Zhao held her hand, her voice low and gentle.
Zi Ya looked up, gazing at Zi Zhao through tear-blurred eyes. “Sister.”
They had only recently met with disaster. Their mother had died miserably, and Zi Zhao had been gravely ill and unconscious. Zi Ya had a stubborn nature and gritted her teeth and persisted without a word, but in the end she was still a noblewoman who had never endured so much suffering.
“Ya, so many women without the position of legal wife still manage to live, don’t they?” Zi Zhao understood what was in Zi Ya’s heart. What she feared was not the hardship of life, but being sent back and forth like goods – played with by one noble until he tired of her, then passed on to another. While young and beautiful, one could still use one’s body to please a master in exchange for food and clothing, but once youth and beauty faded, one could well imagine how miserable life would become.
As for obtaining lasting favor, they did not dare to imagine it at all. How many beauties in this world could cause the downfall of a state with a single smile like Bao Si? Even Bao Si, if faced with a fat, bloated King You of Zhou, would probably not have had an easy time of it either.
The more the two sisters thought, the more sorrowful they became, until they actually embraced each other in the room and wept bitterly.
Song Chuyi returned to her room and heard soft sobbing coming from next door. She thought that venting a little was fine, but just then the youth who had come to deliver the message in the morning arrived again, and she had no leisure to bother with those two sisters.
“I was assigned by the general to serve you, sir. My name is Dan.” The youth knelt before Song Chuyi.
Ordinary slaves would not have names of special significance. “Dan” carries the meaning of utter sincerity. It was obvious that this youth held considerable weight in Longgu Qing’s heart. Song Chuyi looked him over a few more times. “Rise.”
“Thank you.” Dan rose and faced Song Chuyi in a kneeling posture, though his upper body remained slightly bowed.
Dan was about sixteen years old, and by estimation his height was similar to Song Chuyi’s. He wore a half-worn padded cloth jacket. His features were delicate and handsome, and his skin was slightly fairer than that of an ordinary slave. His hair bun was neat, and the hands exposed outside were somewhat red and swollen from the cold, yet very cleanly kept. From head to toe there was not a single spot of dirt. That a servant should be like this left Song Chuyi truly marveling.
“Where did you work before?” Song Chuyi asked.
“I was originally the general’s attendant scribe.” Dan answered respectfully.
No wonder. At such a young age he looked different from an ordinary servant. An attendant scribe had to be chosen from slaves with clean family backgrounds, intelligence, capability, and literacy. Their treatment was completely different from that of ordinary household servants. In the general’s mansion, it could even be considered an official post. Song Chuyi could not casually accept him just like that.
She pondered for a moment, then rose and said, “I will first go to see the general. You come with me.”
“Yes.” Dan rose and said.
Song Chuyi walked out the door and only then realized that those two sisters were still crying. She could not help but scratch her thigh in irritation and roared, “What fucking use is crying? You’d be better off saving your strength and thinking about how to control a man!”
Dan was startled by Song Chuyi’s completely unexpected roar and stared at her dumbfounded, momentarily forgetting even propriety. Dan had only seen Song Chuyi two or three times and in his impression she had always been smiling, amiable, and easygoing. He had not expected her to have such a fierce temper. Song Chuyi acted as though she had not seen his gaze and strode off toward the main courtyard.
She had no intention of hiding anything from Dan. On this trip, she was certain that Longgu Qing would not take Dan back, so as her servant, he would definitely have to be able to adapt to her temperament. Surely she could not change herself just to accommodate a servant.
When Song Chuyi arrived at the entrance to Longgu Qing’s courtyard, before she could speak, an old man with graying hair and beard came forward to greet her. “Master Huaijin. The general is in the tea room. Please follow this slave.”
“Please lead the way, Elder.” Song Chuyi said politely.
“You are too kind.” The old man smiled slightly and returned the greeting.
Dan could not resist secretly glancing at Song Chuyi. Her current refined and courteous manner was utterly different from the fierce, swearing shrew who had been roaring earlier, yet her gentleness did not seem feigned either.
When they reached the tea room, the old man announced, “General, Master Huaijin has arrived.”
“Please come in.” Longgu Qing said.
Dan waited on the corridor while Song Chuyi entered and bowed to Longgu Qing. “The general honors me too much.”
“Heh heh, please sit.” Longgu Qing gestured with his hand. After Song Chuyi sat down, he asked, “How do you find Dan? Are you satisfied with him?”
“Anyone you have trained naturally cannot be bad. But in that case, would you not be left without an attendant scribe?” Song Chuyi said.
Longgu Qing sighed. “I am old. For nearly half a year now I have been unable to see the characters clearly, and I have no patience for listening to others read. Keeping him serves no great purpose. Better that he follow you and have prospects.”
