Chapter 31: The General of Gallant Cavalry

The customs of the current dynasty were rather open-minded, permitting women to remarry. Thus, although Shen Qingyun’s question was somewhat improper, it was difficult to truly fault her. Yueniang no longer knew how to respond to Shen Qingyun’s relentless inquiries.

Truly a country girl, she thought, with no sense of propriety—always choosing the most awkward moments to say the most inappropriate things.

Regret crept into her heart. She shouldn't have come to the Duke’s manor on a whim. Not only had she failed to unsettle Lady Han, but now she herself felt stifled and uneasy.

“I haven’t really thought about it. Perhaps I simply haven’t met the right person. If I were to meet a man as devoted to his wife as the Duke, perhaps I would give it some thought.”

Her words were steeped in meaning, heavy with unspoken intent.

It seemed that Shen Sisi, that delicate white lotus, truly took after her mother—perhaps even surpassing her.

Shen Qingyun gave a silent, wry smile, unmoved by the veiled provocation.

But speak of the devil—Shen Zhifeng, upon hearing that Shen Qingyun was entertaining Yueniang at the pavilion, hurried over. From a distance, Yueniang spotted him, her eyes lighting up.

With Shen Qingyun present, the two began to converse openly, eyes exchanging fleeting, ambiguous glances that others could not decipher.

Shen Qingyun kept her head lowered, sipping her tea as if oblivious to their exchange.

“Your Grace, I’ve noticed you keep rubbing your arm—are you in discomfort?” Yueniang asked, her tone full of concern, having observed the Duke’s unconscious massaging of his arm.

Shen Zhifeng deliberately kneaded it again, wearing a helpless expression. “It can’t be helped—too many documents to review. Sometimes, there’s no other way.”

Shen Qingyun nearly choked on her tea—what a blatant fabrication! With his idle post, where would all those documents come from?

Yueniang, however, looked on with feigned sympathy. “I noticed Madam was very busy managing the household today. Naturally, she can’t attend to everything. Truly, all you need is someone to give you a proper massage now and then.”

As she spoke, she cast him a languid, seductive glance.

Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Shen Zhifeng’s heart softened. He cleared his throat. “I am a bit fatigued. Why don’t I escort you home? It isn’t safe for you to go alone.”

Yueniang promptly rose. “Then I’ll trouble you, Your Grace.”

“Qingyun, if you see your mother later, let her know I’m heading out to take care of some things and will accompany Yueniang home. I won’t be back for dinner.”

With that, he left with Yueniang in tow, righteous and unashamed. As they departed, Yueniang shot Shen Qingyun a covert, taunting look.

Shen Qingyun remained impassive, but beside her, Pearl was seething with rage.

Having grown up amidst the bustling city, Pearl had seen her share of domestic intrigue and instantly recognized that Yueniang was far from simple.

“Miss, are you really going to just let them leave like that?” Pearl protested, indignant.

“Don’t worry, Pearl. I’ve already thought of a way to deal with her. In a few days, she’ll be in for a misfortune. Just wait and see.”

“Really, Miss? That’s wonderful!”

Anger, disgust—no, these words could not begin to describe Shen Qingyun’s feelings. The two of them, right here in the Duke’s manor, in front of her, shamelessly flirting as if she were a fool. If her mother were to witness this, who knew how heartbroken she would be?

Still, after all that had happened today, perhaps Yueniang’s intentions would shift somewhat.

Shen Qingyun quietly sipped her tea, waiting for Lady Han to finish her duties and join her.

After a while, Lady Han arrived, surprised to see only Shen Qingyun.

“Father had business to attend to and offered to escort Yueniang home,” Shen Qingyun said frankly, making no effort to conceal the truth.

A fleeting sadness crossed Lady Han’s eyes. As a woman, as a wife, she instinctively felt a pang of discomfort.

Nevertheless, she forced a smile for her daughter’s sake. “What a pity, after all the effort we put into dressing up today.”

“Not at all, Mother. Besides, you dressed beautifully for yourself, not for anyone else,” Shen Qingyun said, taking her mother’s arm with a playful pout. “If you truly feel it’s a shame, why not accompany me for an outing?”

“Oh, well…”

“Come, let’s go!”

Drawn along by Shen Qingyun, Lady Han soon found herself swept out the door. The thought of Shen Zhifeng accompanying another woman stirred a touch of irritation within her. Very well, she thought—she would go out and enjoy herself with her daughter instead.

Mother and daughter climbed into a carriage and made their way to a lakeside garden, a maid trailing behind with a box of pastries. There were many pavilions and pleasure boats here, and with the sunlight shining just right, they planned to find a pavilion, admire the lake, and chat.

“Before I was married, I often came here with my girlfriends,” Lady Han reminisced, gazing at the lake, her expression wistful. “But now, we’re all wed and scattered, so those days are rare.”

Back then, her temperament had not been so composed. Rather, her general father had spoiled her until she was a bit wild.

Whenever she suffered a grievance, she would often come alone to the lakeshore to clear her mind.

Shen Qingyun watched the nostalgia on her mother’s face, feeling a pang of emotion. She was about to speak when a pleasure boat drifted closer. At its prow, a guard called out, “Is that Miss Han—oh, pardon, the Duchess?”

Shen Qingyun was taken aback. Though both she and her mother wore veils, they had still been recognized—surely an acquaintance.

“Du Chen, mind your manners!” came a deep, resonant voice from the boat. A tall, upright man stepped out, clad in a striking blue robe woven with gold, his eyes as cold as pine in winter.

But... if Shen Qingyun was not mistaken, there was a faint blush on his austere face, as if he were shy. His lips were pressed together, betraying a hint of nervousness.

“Mother, do you know him?”

Lady Han was surprised, her eyes flickering with complex emotions, but she nodded and asked directly, “When did you return?”

The man leapt from the boat, landing before Lady Han, then stepped back a little awkwardly. “Just yesterday. I happened to have matters nearby and thought I might see you.”

Du Chen, left behind at the prow, muttered under his breath, “Matters, indeed... A grown man, boating alone all afternoon, who knows what he was thinking about?”

Even with the distance, the general shot him a withering glance.

Du Chen instantly held his tongue.

“Qingyun, this is General Xiao Jue,” Lady Han said by way of introduction.

Shen Qingyun was startled—so this was the famed General Xiao Jue, second only to Old General Han in the army. She quickly saluted him with respect.

The Xiao family had produced generations of valiant warriors, but his parents had both perished on the battlefield, leaving Xiao Jue orphaned. Old General Han had taken him in and raised him with care. In time, Xiao Jue had earned his own military accolades, young and accomplished, with great prestige in the army.

Indeed, Han Rou and Xiao Jue had grown up as childhood friends.