22 Sealing the Altar's Mouth

Page (1/3)

Yin Zijian did not make things difficult for Tong Youyu and let her leave the flower-viewing banquet unharmed.

Safe and sound, with all limbs intact, and without a single blow.

But she was deeply frightened by his words. His expression was so profound and terrifying, his tone so low and menacing, as if he was about to devour her!

Inside the carriage, Jin Kui noticed her distracted state and asked curiously, “Did something happen when the lady left? Why does she look so pale?”

“Jin Kui, someone wants to seek revenge on me…” Tong Youyu had never seen what a tumor looked like, but she assumed any illness would have dreadful, unbearable symptoms.

She was even afraid she might be scared into tears.

“Who is it that has a grudge against the lady?” Jin Kui asked hastily.

Tong Youyu bit her lip lightly. “It’s the Junior General.”

Upon hearing it was him, Jin Kui smiled. “The Junior General is upright and honorable; he wouldn’t stoop to rough treatment of a lady. Miss, please rest assured.”

She shook her head. “You don’t understand—his eyes are fierce in private…”

She felt guilty toward Yin Zijian, and she shouldn’t have despised his tumor, but it was like the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival when she saw the old woman’s leg injury—flesh and blood mangled. Even if she felt sympathy, fear was inevitable.

It was human nature and couldn’t be suppressed.

“Miss, don’t be afraid; Madam Yin is here to protect you,” Jin Kui comforted her.

“If I complain, what if it causes unrest in the General’s household? Like when my aunt scolded my cousin, it would only bring disappointment and anger.” That would make her a sinner.

“Is it really that serious?” Jin Kui still trusted the Junior General’s character and didn’t believe he would do anything outrageous.

Tong Youyu said nothing. She decided never to visit his house again unless she was sure he was away, and then she would only go to see her aunt.

Was it too much to ask to avoid him?

The two returned to Fenghe Garden. It was getting late, so they did not go to Zhuyi Hall to pay respects to her grandmother.

Jin Kui helped Tong Youyu wash up, removing her hairpins and changing into a light, plain daily dress.

“Miss, you must be tired today. I’ll fetch dinner from the kitchen. After eating, soak your feet and rest early.”

“All right. I’m not very hungry, so don’t bring too much.”

The Shen household had only one kitchen. When there was no family banquet, everyone brought their meals into the courtyard separately, to avoid waiting around at mealtime.

Most of the time, Tong Youyu ate with her grandmother, occasionally with her aunt and cousins.

Jin Kui left Fenghe Garden to get the food, unaware that as Tong Youyu had just left, Shen Shuzhang was entering.

“Cousin, you’re back.”

The Shen family was a modest household, with a small residence and only about ten servants for cleaning and guarding the front and side gates. Fenghe Garden was within the inner quarters and had no special guards.

Tong Youyu stood up. “Cousin, why have you come? Have you eaten?”

“No,” Shen Shuzhang replied, looking at her delicate face, “I have been waiting for you.”

Tong Youyu frowned. “If you have no business, please leave.”

“Why do you always keep me at arm’s length?” Shen Shuzhang, now with no scruples, stepped forward. “If you agree, Grandmother who dotes on you will surely not stand in our way…”

“That’s exactly the problem,” Tong Youyu raised her voice to cut him off. “I see you as a brother, with no romantic feelings. I don’t like you.”

Shen Shuzhang stopped, mouth agape, seemingly incredulous.

His usually gentle cousin was speaking so plainly today.

He laughed bitterly. “Mao Yanchi broke his leg and dares not meet you. Have you found someone new?”

“Whether I have or not, it will never be you,” Tong Youyu said, standing in the corridor, looking at him. “Aunt prefers a well-mannered woman who can assist you in your studies and encourage diligence. Even if you have other plans, you should understand her intentions.”

“But who will understand me?” Shen Shuzhang growled.

Tong Youyu shook her head. “If you were loved in return, there would be some understanding. But your feelings are one-sided; all that remains is your selfishness.”

“One-sided?” Shen Shuzhang was angered and stepped toward her.

Tong Youyu instinctively stepped back. “Calm down…”

“What use is calm? I have endured for so long…” he muttered.

Sensing danger, Tong Youyu turned and ran into the inner room, closing the door to wait for Jin Kui’s return.

The kitchen was not far; she would return soon.

Shen Shuzhang did not act rashly. He stood outside her door for a moment before turning away.

Page (2/3)

Still, Tong Youyu was greatly frightened. Her eldest cousin was a scholar, not particularly refined but generally well-behaved.

But now… he was growing increasingly wild and unhinged. Even if her aunt was saddened, her grandmother would surely be furious.

She could no longer stay in the Shen household.

Tong Youyu made a decision. When Jin Kui returned, she did not mention Shen Shuzhang’s visit but told her to pack carefully to avoid any last-minute chaos.

“Miss, where are we going?” Jin Kui asked, surprised.

“My father’s orders have changed. We must return to Youzhou before the New Year and then go to Tanzhou with him. That way, we won’t need to arrange another escort.”

“Master is to go to Tanzhou?” Jin Kui did not doubt her source and was pleased but said, “Why not wait until after the New Year to leave and go straight to Tanzhou?”

Tong Youyu shook her head. “Tanzhou is a large place with many people. We have never been there. Traveling alone would be inconvenient and hiring escorts costly. Besides, my father may not come to the capital for the New Year.”

With transfer duties and handovers at year-end, there was much to do. Traveling to Tanzhou would stretch them too thin.

Most importantly, with the Shen family in such turmoil, it was meaningless for her to stay.

******

Two days later, Shen Cheng learned of his brother-in-law’s transfer orders.

Though it was unfortunate he wouldn’t become an official in the capital and reunite here, Tanzhou was undoubtedly a good posting—prosperous, bustling with merchants, fertile land, and abundant harvests.

Shen Cheng was happy for his brother-in-law. That evening, the whole family gathered for a meal and shared some wine.

Tong Youyu sat around the round table, eating silently. After finishing, she brought up the tea and then spoke of her plans.

Everyone was surprised when she said she intended to return to Youzhou.

The matriarch, having heard nothing of this, immediately asked, “It’s almost year-end. Why do you want to go back now?”

“Grandmother, Yu Yu naturally doesn’t want to leave you all. But Father didn’t come last year and likely can’t this year either…” Tong Youyu explained what she had told Jin Kui, “Father will be alone in Youzhou for the New Year. I haven’t seen him in nearly two years.”

“But you plan to go to Tanzhou next year?” The matriarch frowned. They wished for her to marry in the capital, so going to Tanzhou now…

Tong Youyu understood her meaning and smiled. “Yu Yu is still young; some things can wait. Besides, maybe Father will return next year.”

“Cousin is leaving?” Shen Shuzhang stared at her blankly, as if wanting to say a thousand things.

Mrs. Peng, nearby, looked like she wanted to persuade her to stay but held back when she saw Shen Shuzhang’s expression.

Shen Cheng spoke up, “Yu Yu is devoted; a daughter shouldn’t be separated from her father too long. After the New Year, she’ll only be sixteen. There’s no rush.”

With her brother-in-law’s promising future and her youthful charm, finding a suitor wasn’t a worry.

The matriarch was reluctant, eyes reddened, but sighed. “Very well. You should accompany your father. He has worked hard these years.”

He had kept Youzhou well-managed but refused to take a second wife and had no sons—only this daughter.

“Grandmother…” Tong Youyu also felt reluctant but was determined to leave.

Once the decision was made, packing was swift.

Mrs. Peng accompanied Tong Youyu to Yingshan Academy to bid farewell to her teacher. Though graduation was not yet due, she was returning to her father’s side to serve him. The academy wouldn’t forbid it on moral grounds.

Before leaving, Master Yuan gifted Tong Youyu a painting, praising her earnestness despite a late start in her studies.

Tong Youyu had few close friends in the capital; the closest was Lin Jinzhù.

Lin Jinzhù was cheerful and ever-smiling, optimistic even in farewells.

“No matter if you’re in Youzhou or Tanzhou, I can visit you. With you there, I’d have a local guide and more places to go sightseeing.”

Tong Youyu laughed softly. “If you really come looking for me, please don’t just tease me.”

“How could I?” Lin Jinzhù felt sorry for her. “If you’re not in the capital, you’ll miss Master Wenren’s piano lessons.”

“I was never that fond of playing the piano… I did disappoint him. He was kind to teach me, but since Mid-Autumn, I only attended once.”

Tong Youyu prepared a wooden folding fan as a gift for Wenren Ze to apologize. While the Yin siblings were still at the academy, she went to bid farewell to Madam Yin.

Madam Yin was reluctant to let her go but could not prevent the father-daughter reunion, so she offered to arrange an escort.

Tong Youyu declined. When the Emperor first ascended, he had cracked down hard on bandits. Though Youzhou was not close to the capital, the roads were generally safe.

Merchants traveled, students journeyed to exams—all could travel safely. Besides, she was not alone and would join the escort guards passing that way. It wouldn’t cost much.

Previously, Tong Huai had traveled with his daughter this way and was familiar with the process. Even the guards knew the Tong family.

Page (3/3)

Youzhou had built a main road to facilitate goods transport, fostering growth and providing business for the escort guards.

The locals appreciated Lord Tong; though the guards were not from Youzhou, escorting the governor’s daughter was an easy favor.

Madam Yin was reassured after learning this. Before leaving, she had the steward send Tong Youyu to meet the guards and gave extra instructions.

*******

On the day of departure, Tong Youyu was escorted to the guards’ group, bidding farewell to her grandmother and uncle, and slowly left the city with her luggage.

Jin Kui accompanied her and, watching the scenery rush by outside the carriage, asked, “Miss, will we return to the capital?”

“Of course. Grandmother is here, and Aunt treats me well.”

The steward from the General’s household had given the guards many instructions and added silver coins before departure. They would spare no effort.

Just as Jin Kui was about to say something, the sound of galloping hooves echoed loudly along the empty official road outside the city.

She peeked out and saw dust flying as a horse thundered toward them at great speed.

“Miss, do you see who that is?”

Tong Youyu glanced but could not make out the figure from afar. She drew the curtain back down. “Put it down; the dust will bother the horses.”

“But I think it looks like the Junior General?”

Yin Zijian had noticed Tong Youyu had missed two days of classes at the academy. At first, he held back from asking, but today, from Lin Jinzhù, he learned she was leaving the capital!

At that moment, Yin Zijian wasn’t sure what he felt, but his body surged forward.

In the blink of an eye, his horse was before them. Accompanied by A Jiang and Ge Jian, he blocked the convoy.

“Tong Youyu!” The carriage curtain was flung open. The tall man, backlit, stood at the door, his handsome face dark and fierce like a vengeful ghost. “The account is not settled yet, and you dare to run?”

Tong Youyu was startled. “You… how…”

Before she could finish, Yin Zijian stretched out his long arm, bypassed Jin Kui, pulled her out, held her close, vaulted onto his horse, and sped away.

“Miss!” Jin Kui was incredulous. “Our Miss has been taken!”

Yin Zijian’s movements were so swift the guards had no time to stop him, and the horse galloped far away!

Before she could ask, Ge Jian identified himself as from the General’s household and asked the guards for their cooperation.

The guards paused their rest and waited in place.

Bouncing on horseback, Tong Youyu was shaken until they stopped in a secluded spot. She was still trembling. “Junior General, what are you doing?”

So many people were watching—did he dare act so boldly?

Yin Zijian dismounted, lifted her down, faced her, and asked angrily, “Why did you leave without saying goodbye?”

Tong Youyu shook her head. “I did not leave without saying goodbye.”

“Oh? Then you simply did not want to tell me, which is why I was unaware,” he sneered. “You left so decisively, trying to break ties with me?”

Tong Youyu didn’t quite understand his anger—was it because he failed to exact revenge and thought she was fleeing?

She did want to avoid him… Tong Youyu knew she was timid and not brave enough to face matters head-on.

Looking at his fierce expression, sharp brows, and terrifying gaze, she leaned forward and said, “I won’t hide anymore. If you’re angry, then hit me!”

“Hit you?”

“Yes.” Tong Youyu summoned all her courage to face him. “There is a cause for grievance and debts to be paid. I won’t tell anyone about today…”

Yin Zijian didn’t want to hear another word. He crossed his arms, lifted her up, turned toward a tree trunk, pressed her against it, and lowered his head to kiss her.

“Mm!”

Her noisy little mouth finally fell silent.

Tong Youyu’s large, round eyes met the upturned corners of Yin Zijian’s eyes, filled with astonishment.

He licked her soft lips heavily, his breath hoarse.

“Still want to say something?”