Chapter 19: Hidden Affections (1)
After Shen Yu and Shen Jing departed swiftly, both sought higher ground to observe subsequent events. Upon ascending a nearby rockery, they immediately encountered Shen Che standing there.
"Second Brother truly has experience," Shen Jing couldn't help remarking. "How many times have you encountered young maidens falling into water now?"
Shen Che smiled wordlessly, gazing down at the distant flower pavilion. Clearly this wasn't his first such encounter - he typically experienced three to eight similar incidents yearly.
Maids and matrons moved with urgency as Shen Yan's group disembarked and hurried along the shore towards the pavilion. Servants already cloaked Ji Cheng and Qi Hua, the latter now conscious as attendants escorted them to change clothes.
"My quarters are nearest here. Let's go there," Shen Qian declared. Having petitioned Princess Anhe to reside in the garden during summer's heat, she now benefited from this proximity.
When the group departed, Shen Che remarked sidelong, "Fortunate you retreated swiftly. Otherwise you might have acquired brides today."
From their vantage, Shen Yu observed the scene below and shook his head at these words.
The flower pavilion lay hidden among dense blooms, invisible at ground level. Yet from the hilltop, Qi Hua's plunge from Nine Dragons Bridge became clear - the structure directly faced the concealed pavilion.
"Thanks to Cheng-mei's warning, we avoided grave embarrassment today," Shen Jing acknowledged. "Had she demanded responsibility after what we witnessed... being relatives complicates matters."
"Taking concubines would be simple enough, but would she she accept such disgrace?" Shen Che commented idly. "Your northern-born cousin swims remarkably well. Uncommon trait."
"This..." Shen Jing hesitated, troubled by the implication yet lacking rebuttal.
Shen Yu interjected, "Miss Cheng possesses admirable compassion."
Shen Che fell silent. His brothers' naivety regarding women's schemes made further discourse pointless. Today's incident appeared resolved without complications.
Any sensible person would have avoided Ji Cheng's impulsive rescue attempt. Why would this calculating girl - whose shrewdness Shen Che recognized from her conversation with Hong Ge'er - perform such rash heroism?
In truth, Ji Cheng acted impulsively - drowsy from wine and midday heat, she'd jumped before thinking. The cold water shock brought regret, but retreat proved impossible. She could only complete the rescue, hoping for commendation.
Her true shock came upon discovering Shen Yu and Jing in the pavilion. Even amidst chaos, she noted three teacups - evidence of a vanished third observer.
Though trivial, this detail paled against the greater danger. Had their presence been discovered, Ji Cheng's reputation would drown beyond redemption. At best, she might enter their household as concubine; at worst, face execution by her aunt's decree.
Frustration simmered - why had her cousins lingered instead of aiding or departing? Yet reflection brought understanding: their delayed response bred awkwardness, and cautious avoidance of entrapment explained their inaction.
In Shen Qian's chamber, Ji Cheng donned borrowed clothes. Taller than her cousin, the sleeves hung short, creating an ill-fitting compromise.
Qi Hua's maid arrived with proper attire while other girls clamored: "How did you fall?" "Were you terrified?" Shen Yan ordered ginger broth, compounding the commotion.
"You're astonishingly bold!" Shen Qian marveled, eyes bright. "Who knew you could swim?"
"Childhood lessons," Ji Cheng demurred between sneezes.
"Slingshots, swimming - is there anything you can't do?" Shen Qian pressed until Shen Yan intervened: "Cease pestering her. Attend to Qi Hua instead."
Reluctantly departing, Shen Qian left Ji Cheng in temporary peace. Shen Yan sat beside her, hesitating before speaking.
"Sister Yan, speak plainly."
"Did you know Qi Hua fell intentionally?"
Ji Cheng nodded. "I suspected."
"My maid Su Xue spotted figures resembling Elder Brother and Fourth Brother nearby."
Ji Cheng flushed crimson, clutching Shen Yan's sleeve. "They remained to avoid causing alarm when I assisted Qi Hua. Please, pretend you saw nothing! I never imagined their presence."
Shen Yan softened at this display. Their acquaintance revealed Ji Cheng's self-respect - this outburst confirmed her innocence. "Su Xue is sworn to silence. But Qi Hua requires... discouragement."
Pursing her lips, Shen Yan added, "She becomes ridiculous - desperate for marriage, resorting to cheap tricks. From her bridge position, the pavilion was visible. To think such methods could entrap our family!"
Ji Cheng struggled to comprehend Qi Hua's logic. Even success would ruin her reputation. Should Yunyang Manor force a marriage, could she withstand familial contempt? Failure promised lifelong disgrace.
This explained Ji Cheng's initial blindness to deliberate drowning attempts. Unbeknownst to her, a prior water rescue had spawned romantic legend in the capital, inspiring misguided imitations among marriage-obsessed maidens.
Having changed and dried her hair, Ji Cheng visited Qi Hua. Shen Yan accompanied them, ensuring discreet conversation.
"Are you recovered, Sister Qi?" Ji Cheng's question dissolved into sneezes. Though robust, sudden immersion and multiple shocks invited chill - fortunately not yet severe.
As soon as Ji Cheng entered, Qi Hua grabbed her hand and said, "Thank you so much for saving me today, Sister Cheng. If it weren't for you, I might not even exist in this world anymore."
If she were truly grateful, she should have visited Ji Cheng first. The fact that she waited for Ji Cheng to come instead revealed Qi Hua's lingering resentment towards her meddling.
What a curious contradiction - though everyone knew the Shen family's young masters wouldn't recklessly dive to rescue anyone, now that Ji Cheng had intervened, Qi Hua clung to the belief that either Shen's eldest or second young master would have surely saved her otherwise.
Yet Ji Cheng's intentions had been pure, leaving Qi Hua trapped between silent resentment and social obligation to maintain surface gratitude.
When Shen Yuan saw Ji Cheng enter, she rose gracefully. "I'll check on the other girls. Sister Qi, please don't rush to get up - our servants have already notified your family at the Earl's residence. They should arrive shortly."
Qi Hua thanked her but kept hold of Ji Cheng's sleeve, pulling her down to sit together. "Sister Cheng," she began, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief, "when you pulled me ashore earlier... I could have sworn I heard a man's voice." Her breath hitched dramatically. "Our clothes were completely soaked through! If outsiders saw us... what would become of us? I..."
Her words dissolved into theatrical sobs. Ji Cheng and Shen Yuan exchanged glances - one weary, the other disdainful.
This baseless self-slander defied reason. While Qi Hua might court scandal for herself, dragging Ji Cheng into it sparked genuine anger beneath Ji Cheng's composed surprise. "What male voices? You must still be disoriented from the ordeal."
Shen Yuan supported smoothly, "Likely a maid's husky voice you misheard. You're welcome to verify - all men were barred from Qinyuan Garden today for the Hundred Flowers Banquet, down to the last servant."
Qi Hua seethed silently. During her semi-consciousness after being dragged ashore, she'd clearly heard Ji Cheng call out "Cousin!" How infuriating to have both women deny it now.
After Shen Yuan departed, Qi Hua confronted Ji Cheng bitterly. "My mind was perfectly clear! I heard you call for your cousin. Are we to let ourselves be seen for nothing?"
Ji Cheng adjusted Qi Hua's blanket with forced calm. "The shock has clearly affected your senses. Maids swarmed us the moment I got you ashore - there were no men present. Are you so eager to ruin your reputation?"
Qi Hua choked on her rebuttal. As Yunyang Earl's daughter, being seen by Shen's young masters would demand proper marriage negotiations, not some shameful covert union. But without concrete proof from her brief consciousness, denial forced her retreat - though resentment festered.
She understood Ji Cheng's greater vulnerability too. A woman of lower status couldn't survive such scandal. This entire disaster stemmed from Ji Cheng's nosy interference ruining her carefully laid plans!
A maid announced the arrival of Yunyang Earl's eldest son, Qi Zheng. The elder brother's personal attendance showed family devotion.
Ji Cheng moved to hide behind the screen, but Qi Hua gripped her wrist. "No need for formalities with my savior! We're closer than family now."
Before Ji Cheng could protest, the curtain parted to reveal a tall, jade-like scholar - Qi Hua's full brother, barred from earldom inheritance but distinguished by his palace guard position, proof of capability.
Today's visit stemmed from their mother's illness keeping Qi Zheng home on leave - the same illness driving Qi Hua's desperate ploy to secure marriage before potential mourning delays.
This twenty-year-old scholar-warrior in waiting, unwed due to his mother's exacting standards for reviving family prestige, stood transfixed by the ethereal beauty beside his sister.
Though Ji Cheng's borrowed clothes hung awkwardly, they accentuated her luminous complexion. The young man who'd accompanied cousins to pleasure quarters found himself breathless before this moonlit haze of feminine grace - simultaneously delicate as morning mist and vivid as sunset clouds, her beauty defying singular comparison.
"Such a lady," he murmured, ancient poetry rising unbidden, "one longs to pursue even in dreams."
Blushing at his sister's introduction, Qi Zheng bowed deeply. "Miss Ji, our family owes you boundless gratitude."
Ji Cheng sidestepped the full courtesy. "The fault lies with us for inadequate care."
As propriety demanded quick departure, the siblings soon left after Shen Yuan and Shen Qien's arrival. Ji Cheng retired to her quarters, physically spent and mentally chiding herself for underestestimating capital women's daring.
That same night found two Shen men restless. Shen Jing, the younger, burned with conflicted emotions. He'd witnessed countless calculated women in noble households, yet Ji Cheng's spontaneous rescue had pierced his jaded heart.
The memory tormented him - her drenched form revealing soft curves, eyes shining like spring torrents. Three pots of cold tea and a dousing later, he still tossed sleepless, adolescent longing overriding reason.
His elder cousin Shen Yu, experienced in marital matters, nursed quieter regrets. Why hadn't they withdrawn immediately when honor demanded?
(End of Chapter)
