Chapter 209: Intentions (Part 2)
Xie Jing Xing instructed Tang Shu to send them off and just as he was to leave the main hall, Ye Furen seemed to have thought of something and turned around to ask, “After a few days, it is His Highness’s birthday.”
Shen Miao was startled. She did not know Xie Jing Xing’s birthday because the one in Ming Qi was definitely not real. As for at Great Liang, she had not yet heard Xie Jing Xing speaking about it.
Ye Furen’s eyes were sharp and saw Shen Miao’s slightly surprised expression and said with a smile, “Why does it look like WangFei do not know of the matter?”
Ye Mei and Ye Ke also stopped. Ye Mei looked at Shen Miao with a slight surprise in her gaze.
As a wife, one do not know about one’s husband’s birthday and it was an outsider who speak about it. This couple is indeed strange.
Xie Jing Xing sat in the hall drinking tea, as if he had never heard Ye Furen’s words. Shen Miao smiled gently, “Does Ye Furen still remember Young Lady’s and Young Master’s birthday?”
Ye Furen unconvincingly reply, “This…”
Shen Miao did not give her a chance to talk, “After missing out for decades, it is better for Ye Furen to think about how to compensate Young Lady Ye’s and Young Master Ye’s birthday first.” The meaning of the words was that she should manage her own affairs before bothering others and didn’t poke into other matters.
She had slapped Ye Furen’s face that ruthlessly so Ye Furen did not have a very good expression and Ye Mao Cai seemed to be a little embarrassed. Ye Mei tugged Ye Ke and they bowed to Shen Miao before leaving hurriedly.
Seeing their retreating figures, Shen Miao took a deep breath.
This pair of Ye siblings had still succeeded as the Ye family had successfully protected them before she took action. From today onwards, one had to deal with the Ye family before dealing with them and this was much more difficult that just killing a pair of siblings. Particularly, it also implicated the interest of the Imperial family of Great Liang and it was even more difficult to touch them.
It really made one irreconcilable and unhappy.
She thought about it and hesitated before looking back at Xie Jing Xing. Thinking about the moment of anger yesterday and she lashed at him because of Wan Yu and Fu Ming, he was still rational today as he did not give the Ye siblings any special treatment. Perhaps they should chat seriously. These days, she had performed badly.
However when she turned around just now, she saw Xie Jing Xing standing up expressionless and walked passed her without even a glance, like she was a stranger.
He did not speak a single word.
The words ‘I have something to tell you’ were stuck at her throat that Shen Miao could not swallow for a long time.
Gu Yu and Jing Zhe who was standing behind saw it and looked at one another. Both of them knew that Shen Miao and Xie Jing Xing were in a cold war these few days and if one’s master was not happy, naturally the servants would also not be happy. However just now, Shen Miao seemed to have intentions for reconciliation but with Xie Jing Xing’s coldness, one feared that it had hurt their Young Lady’s heart.
Jing Zhe and Gu Yu had followed Shen Miao for so many years and could understand Shen Miao’s temperament especially in these two years and she had very strong self-esteem. With Xie Jing Xing being like this, even if Shen Miao had the intention for reconciliation, she would not take the initiative. Jing Zhe said softly, “This is bad. One just married so if this goes on, how could one live?”
Gu Yu also whispered, “One have to think of a way quickly.”
When Shen Miao returned to the room, the more she thought about it, the more upset she felt. One felt very terrible towards Xie Jing Xing’s unfamiliar attitude. She had been an Empress in Ming Qi for so many years and other than begging for favour because of Fu Ming and Wan Yu, she had never given in to others. She had a stubborn personality else she would not have fought with Mei Furen for so many years.
Xie Jing Xing’s current attitude made her intentions of wanting to talk to him dimmed. Both of them were stubborn but it was just that Xie Jing Xing would not quarrel with others usually and she concealed herself well thus it was an appalling scene when they go up against one another.
Just as she was thinking, someone outside knocked and pushed the door open. It was Ba Jiao.
Ba Jiao was as all smiles as she placed a plate of pastry on Shen Miao’s table, “This is the snack that the little kitchens have newly made. It is especially made accordingly to Ming Qi’s style. May Furen taste it to see if it is suitable or not.”
Because of Shen Miao’s and Xie Jing Xing’s cold war, the servants in the residence were also very cautious. Naturally the people in Mo Yun Army would be bias towards their master, just like Jing Zhe and Gu Yu who would definitely stand on Shen Miao’s side. Ba Jiao and Hui Xiang had long returned and thus one did not think that Ba Jiao would come over.
One feared that a wine-lover’s ehart was not in the cup. Shen Miao looked at her, “You have something to say to me?”
Ba Jiao smiled at once and scratched her head, “This servant is stupid and Furen could see it before this one speak. Furen, this servant was called over by Jing Zhe and Gu Yu to persuade you.”
Jing Zhe and Gu Yu, who were standing outside, suddenly become awkward. This Ba Jiao said that she was stupid but normally she was smart. But saying that she was smart, she actually sold both of them out without much prompting, making one unable to say anything.
Shen Miao laughed, “What do you want to persuade me?”
“They all said that Furen have a cold character that when Master was injured for so many days, one did not know where Furen ran off to and did not take a look at Master. After Master woke up, one only came over to take a look once thus everyone protest the unfairness for Master and thus treated Furen coldly. May Furen not blame them.”
Shen Miao shook her head, “They are speaking the truth.”
“But Furen’s character is not cold at all.” Ba Jiao said in all smiles, “Furen just do not like to talk about it. Otherwise, one would not bring us to that forest for an entire night, insisting to find that Superior One and beseech for the herb for Master. But why does Furen not tell Master about the matter?”
Shen Miao said lightly, “The person who saved him is not me and at the end the herb was not used. Since it is futile and useless, then it is not a merit so how would one speak of it?” She also did numerous things for Fu Xiu Yi in the Inner Palace, reducing and simplifying matters and even allow Fu Xiu Yi to gain a good reputation but at the end it could not be compared to the government decree that Li Ke provided to Fu Xiu Yi. Saying it out would only make it a joke to others and make one pity, thus it was better not to have it.
Ba Jiao frowned, “But that is your heart’s intention.”
Shen Miao looked towards her, “Heart’s intention.”
Ba Jiao nodded her head, “No matter if you are able to save Master or not, or even if the herb is at the end useless, your heart’s intention was true. You have hidden and conceal it so how would Master know that Furen have wandered in the forest for an entire night and still insist of moving forward? All those are your heart’s intention. From this servant’s perspective, Furen’s intention is even more precious than that herb. For Furen to hide one’s own heart’s intention because the herb is not used, isn’t it throwing a watermelon to pick up a sesame seed?”
Shen Miao was startled.
Ba Jiao said with all smiled, “Furen, your heart’s intention is more useful than the herb as it could cure Master’s illness.”
“Must one’s intention be spoken for it to be known?” Shen Miao’s eyes hung down, “If one has a heart, how would one not understand?”
Ba Jiao shook her head, “It might be the case for others but it is different for Master.”
“Oh?”
“You also know that Master’s life is not as smooth sailing. Mo Yun Army was established single handedly by Master and this servant have followed Master for a long time. Master would normally face schemes but those were all from outsiders and enemies, thus there is little room for criticism. But towards one family, one would always hope that there would be more frankness.” Ba Jiao looked seriously at Shen Miao, “Furen, you are Master’s wife and the closest person to Master. If you don’t even speak clearly about one’s heart’s intention, he would not be sure of it even if he might be aware of it. The more precious a thing is, the more demanding it would be come. Master valued your heart’s intention greatly and thus became angry. He is not doubting you but doubting himself.”
He was not doubting you but doubting himself.
Shen Miao was shocked and it seemed that a certain piece of ice in her heart had bloomed due to these words and from it there was a trickle and spring arose.
“Master will also doubt himself and doubt that he is not good and that he is not as good as others and be suspicious that you are dissatisfied with him. When all these doubts accumulate, it will become suspicion towards your heart’s intention. Like this, do you still want to hide your intentions?”
Shen Miao’s slightly hung down but her heart started to rise and fall.
Xie Jing Xing was a very proud person and would casually smile in the middle of thousands of horses. He had lived in the filthiest and chaotic court and was burden with responsibilities at an early age. Be it family, brothers or friends, he was neither close nor distant, making him look like one who did not care about anything.
However what everyone had forgotten was that he had the most straightforward sincerity, as innocent as a youth. Just like how he treated Su Ming Feng, Princess Rong Xin and even the Marquis of Lin An.
He was too proud to say anything clearly but did everything behind their back. In this lifetime or last lifetime, this kind of person would never be mixed with people like Li Mei and Li Ke. She should not have doubted it. Her distrust stemmed from her lack of self-confidence. Just like Xie Jing Xing doubting her, she was also doubting herself.
Shen Miao closed her eyes.
Like what Ba Jiao said, one would become more demanding towards things that one treasured the most. Her heart was moved by Xie Jing Xing and thus was afraid that Xie Jing Xing would have involvement with Mei Furen and Xie Jing Xing cared about her so her cold treatment had become the other’s sore eyes.
She seemed to have done some things wrongly but fortunately there were still chances to make up.
Ba Jiao was the changes in Shen Miao’s expression and suddenly smiled, “Furen still have to coax Master. These days Master is very cold and strict that the people in Mo Yun Army cannot bear it anymore.”
Shen Miao shook her head and smile, “I understand.”
“But.” Ba Jiao hesitated but still asked, “Furen, do you have any misgiving with the Ye siblings?”
Shen Miao was startled, “Why do you say that?” Everyone in the Prince residence knew of her cold and indifferent attitude towards the Ye siblings and everyone was puzzled as it was their first encounter. Everyone said that Shen Miao was jealous of Ye Mei’s beauty and even though it was far from it, one was unable to find any other reasons, thus Ba Jiao asked.
“You are too cold towards that pair of siblings. Even Master instructed people to investigate the background of that pair of siblings but there was nothing wrong. So Furen…”
Shen Miao’s heart moved. First it was because she was surprised that Xie Jing Xing would secretly investigate the background of Ye Mei and brother and second was that even Xie Jing Xing could not find anything wrong with this pair of siblings’ background. They were very clean.
“They have some misgiving with me.” Shen Miao said, “But this matter is of great importance so do not mention it for the time being.”
Ba Jiao nodded thoughtfully and looked at Shen Miao with a smile, “It is good that Furen has thought through about it. Furen must not hide one’s intention. At this moment, Master is confused with his anger and could not see it but that day, those of us who accompany Furen to search for that strange Taoist Priest all saw it clearly. The person that Furen’s heart is at is obvious so there is no need to hide.” After that she winked at Shen Miao, “Master’s birthday is the third of next month and in the past years there would be a banquet that is thrown in the Bi Xiao Lou. This servant has secretly asked the manager and knows that it is the same this year. If Furen want to prepare a birthday present, it is best to prepare it in these few days.”
Before Shen Miao could say anything, Ba Jiao blurted out, “It is very easy to coax Master. If one cannot do anything then Furen can personally make a bowl of longevity noodles and Master’s anger will guaranteed be distinguished. However the most important thing is that you must not conceal your heart’s intention and Master would be even happier.” Finishing she ran away quickly.
Shen Miao watched as she opened the doors and closed them. After being startled, a laugh burst out.
Her heart finally felt much relax than the past few days.
Since some matters could not be avoided then one had to face it directly. Just like blood feud that could not be cut. Just like intentions that could not be spoken clearly.