Stay by My Side

Bai Yuanshuang had been utterly humiliated. Anger showed on her face, and her tone grew sharp before she knew it. "Bai Mo, you keep saying you want to marry Young Master Qingya, yet you won't stop pestering Young Master Xiao. Aren't you afraid your conduct will disgrace our Residence of the Earl Who Protects the State?"

The people passing by were astonished when they heard this and stopped in their tracks!

When Xiao Muzhi heard that Bai Mo wanted to marry Young Master Qingya, his lips turned pale as well.

Smack! A vicious slap landed.

Bai Mo's face was exceedingly grim. Nothing had been settled between her and Shen Qing yet, and Bai Yuanshuang dared spread the matter so brazenly. Was she trying to ruin Shen Qing's reputation?

Bai Yuanshuang stared in astonishment. She had never imagined Bai Mo would dare strike her in public. What gave her the right? Was she relying on their mother's favor?

"Bai Mo, how dare you hit me? Did I say a single word that wasn't true? Weren't you even going to have Mother use the vermilion edict and iron certificate to ask the empress for a marriage decree as a favor?"

"Hiss..."

Gasp after gasp rose around them.

Several onlookers enjoying the gossip were astonished by what they heard!

Thud! A vicious kick followed.

Bai Yuanshuang was completely stunned. Bai Mo had never practiced martial arts, so why...

"Ah! I'll kill you!"

Bai Mo stepped forward and seized her by the chin.

"Shut up if you don't want to die. Otherwise, you'll only make an even bigger fool of yourself, idiot."

Bai Yuanshuang's face went from black to red, then red to black, a spectacular sight like a painter's palette.

Bai Mo had no wish to say more. The more she said about these matters, the more mistakes she would make.

She patted Bai Yuanshuang's face and spat.

Bai Yuanshuang had not quite recovered her senses...

"Bai Mo, just you wait."

"Why should I wait for you? You're a disgrace."

Bai Mo turned straight around. Seeing Xiao Muzhi looking as though he wanted to speak but hesitated, she had no wish to explain further.

"Young Master Xiao, get in your carriage and go back. I'll be heading back too."

Xiao Muzhi could only swallow the words he wanted to say. With a young attendant's help, he climbed into his carriage and departed.

Lichun came over leading the horses and saw that the eldest and second young ladies had quarreled. She stepped forward to help, but Bai Mo stopped her.

"Back to the residence."

Lichun did not dare make a sound. She hurriedly mounted and followed her away.

They had been delayed for so long that it was already the beginning of the xu hour when they reached the residence.

Presumably, Shen Qing had already taken his medicine and gone to sleep. There would be little point in going to see him now.

After thinking it over, Bai Mo ordered a maid to prepare water for a bath, then went to bed.

The next day.

Two matters were being talked about throughout the Capital.

The eldest young lady of the Residence of the Earl Who Protects the State had concealed her abilities. She possessed hills and valleys in her heart and was a person of great talent. The poems she had written had shaken the hearts of every scholar and poet, and Great Master Xiao had even taken her as a personal disciple on the spot.

The other matter concerned this Eldest Young Lady Bai's romantic escapades.

Word had it that Eldest Young Lady Bai was a philanderer by nature and dared carry on an illicit affair with the Third Princess's consort. She had also pledged her love to Young Master Qingya, bought the freedom of a famous courtesan from a pleasure house, and was entangled with Great Master Xiao's beloved grandson.

Many people passed the rumors along, and they grew more exaggerated with every telling.

Some went even further, saying that Eldest Young Lady Bai and Young Master Qingya had been carrying on in secret and had privately pledged themselves to each other for life at the flower-viewing banquet in the Third Princess's residence.

When Shen Qing woke that morning, he found that his whole body stank unbearably.

He suddenly remembered that Bai Mo had told him to bathe when he got up the next day...

After being busy for most of the morning without even eating breakfast, Shen Qing finally got himself clean.

When Shen Qing emerged from the washroom, Xiaotian and Xiaojing were both astonished at the sight of their young master.

"Young Master seems a little different today."

"Father, it's not just a little. Young Master looks as though he might ride the wind away and become an immortal. But when I was tidying the bed just now, it was especially filthy. The bedding had turned black, and Young Master told me to throw it away..."

Xiaojing nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly with Xiaotian.

Jiang You glared at the foolish son. "What nonsense are you spouting? You're the one who'll ride the wind away. Pah, pah, pah! Nothing but inauspicious things come out of your mouth."

Shen Qing entered the main hall.

"Have the meal served. Has Young Master Yunwu eaten?"

"In answer to Young Master, he has not. Young Master Yunwu has been asking after you all morning."

"Ask him to come eat with me in my hall."

"Yes."

They withdrew to carry out his orders.

Before long, Yun Wu came over with graceful steps. Yun Wu was already a beauty of the first rank, and Shen Qing was the most elegant young man in the Capital. Together, the two made a striking sight.

Yun Wu's gaze as he looked at Shen Qing was exceptionally clear, holding awe, appreciation, and a trace of envy...

"Sit down and eat with me."

"Thank you, Young Master."

Yun Wu looked so quiet and well-behaved that Shen Qing felt pity for him. "Young Master Yunwu, what plans do you have for the future?"

Yun Wu shook his head. After his adoptive mother passed away, the only home he had was gone. He had no family left in the world and truly did not know where to go...

"If Young Master Yunwu is willing, you may stay as a guest in my residence."

Yun Wu looked up in surprise, uncertainty in his eyes.

"I couldn't possibly. I was once entered in the courtesan register. I'm not even worthy of serving you, Young Master, so how could I dare stay here as a guest?"

Shen Qing took small sips of his congee and said earnestly, "I'm not asking you to be a servant. I only want to give you a place where you can live in peace, and you can keep me company too. I'm lonely on my own.

"What a man should fear most is looking down on himself. Although you entered the world of dust, you are still a pure and honorable young man. You are kind, an outstanding dancer, and no ordinary beauty. Don't spend all day with your head bowed. A person earns their own dignity. Do you understand?"

Yun Wu's eyes grew misty, and his throat caught a little.

"And you still have a blood feud to avenge. Are you willing to spend the rest of your life like this?"

Yun Wu stared at Shen Qing in astonishment, not knowing how he had learned of his past.

"Young Master..."

Shen Qing put down his bowl and chopsticks, his tone calm throughout. "When I look at you, I often feel as though I'm looking at who I once was. Apart from her, I've never been willing to owe anyone a favor. Asking you to follow me in return for saving you really has been unfair to you."

Yun Wu hurriedly shook his head. "It hasn't been unfair. I'm immensely grateful that you're willing to take me in, Young Master. Besides, what I did back then was merely a small effort. I did nothing much and don't deserve to be credited with saving you."

"All that has passed is but a preface. Wherever your heart leads, go there in plain shoes. Life is a journey against the current; let a single reed carry you across. I hope you can understand."

Shen Qing gently held out his hand to Yun Wu.

In Yun Wu's eyes, that hand was both salvation and a gift. Unable to hold back... he finally shed tears.

He gripped Shen Qing's hand tightly.

"I'm willing. I'll be sure to serve you well from now on, Young Master."

"Remember, you're only staying here as a guest. You don't need to serve me, and you aren't a servant."

A smile finally spread across Shen Qing's face. "Misfortune lies beneath good fortune, and good fortune rests upon misfortune. These words of the ancient sages have endured for a thousand years, and what they say is indeed true."

"Yun Wu understands."

Meanwhile, Bai Mo was about to have lunch when, unexpectedly, Bai Peilan arrived.

"Greetings, Family Head."

"The eldest young lady is just about to eat. Would you like to join her, Family Head?"

Lichun went up to welcome her with a cheerful smile.

"Lichun, girl, go and bring another bowl and pair of chopsticks. I'll eat with Momo."

"All right! I'll tell the little kitchen to add a few more dishes."