APSIL -Chapter 12 Though the Sky Is Clear, the Heart Is Not

The countryside was slightly cooler than the capital thanks to its denser vegetation, but with the sun already climbing toward its zenith, walking beneath the blazing heat was anything but pleasant.

After making the long trek from the Zhang residence at the village entrance to the temporary school near the far end of the village, Zhu Ying now had to walk all the way back. Sweat poured down her face, and her clothes clung tightly to her body, making her thoroughly uncomfortable.

As she walked, she couldn’t help thinking that whenever the weather turned hot in the capital, she always stayed indoors surrounded by basins of ice, careful not to tan or sweat away her carefully applied makeup. If she hadn’t been curious about what Zhang Shou was teaching those villagers, she never would have ventured out under such a merciless sun or walked such a long distance.

She had indeed discovered a few interesting things.

But that fellow still treated her as if she didn’t exist!

In the capital she either rode in a carriage, traveled in a sedan chair, or, more often than not, rode horseback. Walking this far on her own two feet was a first for her. Even when she entered the palace, she was usually granted the privilege of riding in a shoulder sedan.

Instinctively, Zhu Ying raised her sleeve to shield herself from the scorching sunlight.

After only a few more steps, however, she suddenly noticed that the dazzling glare dimmed.

Thinking a cloud had finally drifted overhead, she lowered her sleeve and looked up.

Instead, what blocked the blazing sun was a large crimson oil-paper umbrella.

More importantly, a poem was written across its surface.

It was Spring River, Flower, Moon, Night.

She stared at the calligraphy for quite a while, finding it strangely familiar. Only then did she think to look at the person holding the umbrella.

The moment she turned her head, she froze.

All the irritation she’d been carrying vanished in an instant.

Even her voice became slightly tongue-tied.

“Y-you… why are you…”

Without the slightest trace of emotion, Zhang Shou extended the umbrella toward her.

“It’s summer. Go out as little as possible, and if you do, carry an umbrella. Otherwise, by the time you realize you’ve gotten tanned, it’ll already be too late.”

After saying that, he waited until she accepted it blankly, gave a slight nod, and turned around to leave without another word.

Only after standing there for quite some time did Zhu Ying finally recover her senses.

The umbrella’s handle was smooth and comfortably rounded. Besides the beautifully inked poem, the paper was decorated with tasteful painted motifs that made it all the more pleasing to the eye.

Her mood brightened without her even noticing.

Forgetting that the silent A-Liu wasn’t exactly someone to chat with, she turned toward him, waved the umbrella, and asked, “Did your young master make this?”

“No.”

As always, A-Liu’s reply was short and stiff.

“Carpenter Xu made it in his spare time.”

Then, unexpectedly, he added, “But the writing on it was done by Young Master. It’s one of his favorite poems.”

Zhu Ying’s face immediately lit up with delight.

She wasn’t one of those gifted young ladies who could compose poetry at will, but having been educated from childhood, she could easily recite dozens upon dozens of Tang poems and Song lyrics from memory.

Among them all, Spring River, Flower, Moon, Night—that magnificent masterpiece often called the greatest single poem of the Tang Dynasty—had always been her favorite.

Yet she had never told anyone.

What wonderful fate…

Though that terrible handwriting really is an eyesore…

Her happiness overflowing, she no longer minded A-Liu’s earlier half-finished answers. Holding the crimson umbrella overhead, she continued walking.

Although the sun remained merciless, the muddy village roads were unpleasant beneath her feet, and sweat still dampened her clothes, she suddenly found the journey far more enjoyable.

An unrelated thought quietly surfaced in her mind.

Does Zhang Shou know… that crimson oil-paper umbrellas are traditionally used by grooms when they escort their brides?

Earlier she had wanted nothing more than to bathe, change clothes, and collapse into bed.

Now, however, shaded beneath the bright red umbrella, she found herself full of energy again.

Since she’d used the excuse of inspecting her father’s estates to remain at the Zhang household, she figured she ought to tour the village properly. Otherwise, if she returned knowing nothing, she’d only make a fool of herself.

Thus, the village children were treated to a sight entirely unlike the one they were accustomed to whenever their little teacher, Zhang Shou, passed by.

A youth dressed in elegant pale-green silk, possessing beauty so dazzling it almost overwhelmed the senses, strolled through the muddy village paths beneath a crimson oil-paper umbrella, wandering here and there at a leisurely pace.

It was as though a magnificent peony had suddenly bloomed within an idyllic countryside painting.

An extraordinarily eye-catching sight.

The first child, curious and innocent, quietly followed behind her.

By the time Zhu Ying had wandered around the entire village, a crooked little procession of children trailed after her—boys and girls alike, the oldest only four or five years old, the youngest barely old enough to walk.

After examining a rice field on the village outskirts, she finally sensed something strange.

Turning around, she found the long line of tiny followers staring openly at her.

The moment she looked back, many of them squealed and ran away, only to stop after a short distance, turn around again, and continue staring.

Anyone else would have found it baffling.

But Zhu Ying had long grown accustomed to being the center of attention whenever she galloped through the streets of the capital.

She merely paused for a moment before laughing brightly.

“These little ones certainly know how to appreciate beauty.”

Just then, A-Liu spoke.

“Miss… it looks like guests have arrived at the house.”

She immediately turned toward the Zhang residence.

It wasn’t far away, and where its entrance had stood empty when she’d left earlier, there were now numerous horses and carriages gathered outside.

There were seven carriages alone.

With her sharp eyesight, she instantly recognized them as belonging to her own household.

Her first reaction wasn’t joy.

It was panic.

Yesterday she’d stayed behind on a whim.

Her second brother would undoubtedly be furious, and even her grandmother—who usually doted on her—might refuse to indulge such willfulness.

What if these people had come to take her home?

She still hadn’t learned what she wanted to know.

Zhang Shou remained wrapped in mystery.

She still hadn’t figured him out at all.

Ignoring how sore and heavy her legs had become from all the walking, she hurried toward the house.

Before she reached the gate, she could already hear raised voices from inside, making her even more anxious.

Then she saw two figures storm angrily out through the entrance.

The moment they spotted her, both of them ran toward her at full speed.

Recognizing them as her two most trusted senior maids, Zhanjin and Liuyin, Zhu Ying finally relaxed a little.

Before they could speak, she hurriedly asked, “Why did you come out? What’s all the commotion? Did Second Brother come?”

The tall Zhanjin, dressed in a honey-colored skirt, smiled with relief, revealing a tiny dimple in her right cheek.

But as soon as Zhu Ying mentioned her second brother, anger replaced her smile.

“Miss, Liuyin and I couldn’t stand Nanny Zhao’s behavior, so we came out looking for you! Second Young Master didn’t come. The Old Madam confined him to the estate and instead sent Nanny Li and Nanny Jiang, along with all of us.”

“Who knew what trick Second Young Master used? He actually persuaded Nanny Zhao to intercept our carriages halfway here!”

At those words, Zhu Ying’s face darkened.

No one knew Nanny Zhao’s character better than she did.

Relying on the fact that she’d once served Zhu Ying’s late mother and had nursed Zhu Ying herself for two or three years, Nanny Zhao had always bullied others within the estate.

When Zhu Ying finally learned the truth, she’d flown into a rage and forcefully expelled the woman from the residence under the pretense of allowing her to “retire honorably.”

She had never expected that shameless old woman to be brought back here.

The next instant, Nanny Zhao’s shrill voice rang out from inside.

“This miserable place isn’t even as spacious as a hallway in our estate! How can anyone possibly live in such a cramped hole? Our Young Miss is precious beyond compare! How could she be bewitched into staying in a pigsty like this?”

Knowing that if she didn’t stop Nanny Zhao immediately, all the effort she’d put into staying here would go to waste, Zhu Ying clenched her fists so tightly they nearly cracked.

Just as she was about to rush inside and silence the loudmouthed woman, the corner of her eye caught movement behind her.

She turned and discovered that Zhang Shou had returned at some point and was standing nearby beside A-Liu.

She had no idea whether he’d heard Nanny Zhao’s insults.

This is bad…

Then Zhang Shou addressed her.

“Miss.”

She instantly flared up.

“I told you to call me Yingying!”

Thinking about how, from yesterday until now, he’d never once called her by that name and had deliberately kept his distance, Zhu Ying couldn’t suppress her annoyance.

Realizing she shouldn’t lose her temper in front of her maids, she refused Zhanjin’s outstretched hand that was trying to take the crimson umbrella from her and demanded, “Why are you stopping me? I’m going in there to throw that old shrew out!”

Pretending not to notice her emotional outburst, Zhang Shou calmly asked, “And how exactly do you plan to throw her out? By arguing with her? Or by hitting her?”

“Why waste your temper quarreling with a shrew?”

“As the saying goes, the highest strategy is to subdue your enemy without fighting.”

Standing behind their mistress, Zhanjin and Liuyin fixed all four eyes squarely on Zhang Shou.

Before coming, neither of them had known what had happened yesterday that caused their young lady to remain in the countryside without even bringing a single maid or a change of clothes.

But now that they had finally seen Zhang Shou, they understood immediately.

This young gentleman’s appearance and bearing were truly unmatched.

Not a single young nobleman in the capital could compare.

Even the calm, unhurried way he spoke made people instinctively feel at ease.

Only…

Trying to deal with Nanny Zhao through mere words sounded rather unrealistic.

Zhu Ying wasn’t convinced either.

“Zhu Gongquan was at least an educated man, so your methods worked on him.”

“But the one causing trouble now is my wet nurse. She can’t even read. She’s unreasonable, impossible to reason with, and even back at home very few people dared provoke her.”

“How are you supposed to defeat someone like that without fighting?”

Looking entirely confident, Zhang Shou replied, “I have my own method.”

“When you go inside, ignore her completely.”

“Just talk to the people your grandmother sent.”

“Let them deal with Nanny Zhao.”

“Your second brother is formidable enough, yet even he was placed under house arrest by your grandmother.”

“Do you really think your wet nurse can stand up to the Old Madam’s trusted attendants?”

Zhanjin and Liuyin exchanged uncertain glances.

Zhu Ying, on the other hand, immediately brightened.

Stuffing the crimson umbrella into her maids’ hands, she smiled radiantly at Zhang Shou.

“Very well.”

“The one involved is confused, while the bystander sees clearly.”

“I’ll try your idea.”

Thinking of everything she’d seen throughout the village today, she had already realized that Zhang Shou was far more than just a handsome country youth.

Now his suggestion sounded remarkably sensible as well.

Beaming, she cast him another cheerful glance before proudly lifting her chin and striding through the gate.

Without sparing Nanny Zhao so much as a glance, she crossed the courtyard directly to Madam Wu and asked with a smile, “Aunt Wu, I’m hungry. What’s for lunch today?”

Outside the gate, Zhang Shou couldn’t help rubbing his nose.

Should I say this young lady really knows how to draw inferences?

She carried my advice even further than I intended.

She didn’t just ignore the loudmouthed wet nurse—she ignored every single person sent by the Old Madam as well.

If those two maids repeat what I told her…

Surely the Old Madam won’t blame me for this, will she?