Chapter Forty-Four: Different Blossoms Share the Fragrant Dust

As he left the garden, he saw someone standing quietly ahead—it was Shen Ruoxi. Although Shen Lian rarely returned to the Shen residence, each time he did, his power and influence seemed to grow, so much so that even Shen Qingshi and Shen Qingshan treated him with unintentional deference and courtesy. It wasn’t that Shen Lian was harsh, but when a person’s status and influence rise, others can’t help but see them differently.

Shen Ruoxi’s initial prejudice against Shen Lian had gradually transformed into a complex and inexpressible admiration as she learned more about him and the martial world. She still didn’t know it was Shen Lian who had rescued her from a dream years ago. So much time had passed that even the faint memories from then had blurred into nothingness. Besides, she had never known the cause or the resolution of it all.

“Ruoxi, are you waiting for me?” Shen Lian greeted her first. Shen Ruoxi was now approaching eighteen, the most graceful age for a young woman—slender and poised, like a pure lotus in bloom.

“I was just about to go in when Grandfather dismissed everyone else, so I had no choice but to wait for you outside,” Shen Ruoxi replied softly, slightly biting her lower lip. The delicate fragrance of a young girl lingered quietly between them.

In Shen Lian’s eyes, even though Shen Ruoxi’s skin was tender enough to bruise at a touch, he could see flaws that made her far less perfect than Xin Shisi-niang. Yet, there was a sincerity to her beauty. In his previous life, Shen Lian had no sisters; he was an only child, and perhaps that was why he longed for sibling bonds in this life. Blood ties could not be severed; over time, he began to regard her truly as his sister, not as he had when he first returned to the Shen family.

“What is it?” Shen Lian went straight to the point. He was about to seek the Path, and might never return; if Shen Ruoxi had any requests, he would help her if he could.

“I wish to host a plum blossom poetry gathering,” she said, rising slightly on her toes. As she matured, she had gained much of a lady’s poise and gentleness.

“If that’s what you want, then do it. Surely Second Uncle wouldn’t stop you from holding a poetry gathering,” Shen Lian replied with a smile.

“You know I’ve never been as learned as you. Can you compose a poem for me?” Shen Ruoxi tugged at Shen Lian’s sleeve.

“I’m afraid if I do, it may not be good enough and you’ll embarrass yourself,” he shook his head.

“How could that be? If you put your mind to it, you’ll outshine everyone,” she nearly threw her arms around his as she pleaded. Lately, she’d been secretly reading tales of chivalry and picked up phrases like “outshine all others” with ease.

“I can’t compose one myself, but I can copy one from someone else for you. No one will ever notice,” Shen Lian said offhandedly.

“Really?” Doubt flickered across her face, as if she were saying, “Don’t try to fool me just because I’m less learned.”

“Of course not. Believe it or not,” Shen Lian started to walk away.

“Fine, I believe you. With your photographic memory, you could easily find an obscure poem and fool them all,” Shen Ruoxi said, recalling the time she witnessed his prodigious memory. Last year, at the family school, when she was stumped by a question posed by the tutor, she was told to find the answer in her books and copy it a hundred times. Shen Lian had then used his martial skill to whisper directly to her where to find it, down to the exact book, volume, page, and line.

The tutor’s question was impromptu, so there was no way Shen Lian could have known beforehand, which only proved how astonishing his memory was.

The Shen family wasn’t known for poetry and literature, but their library was unmatched in the whole of Qingzhou. Shen Ruoxi knew Shen Lian would sometimes spend time in those secluded rooms, so it was not surprising if he’d come across some rare verses and memorized them. Of course, she could never know that he’d spent little time memorizing everything in those archives and had even learned many strange tales no one else knew.

“Listen carefully, I’ll say it only once,” Shen Lian said, patting her on the head.

“Don’t make it too long, or I’ll never remember it.”

“It’s very short.”

“Then hurry up.”

With tens of thousands of poems in his mind, Shen Lian knew that even the most obscure poems of this world might still be recognized by someone. What he intended to give Shen Ruoxi, of course, was poetry from Earth. The cultures of both worlds were similar, their poetic forms akin. Recalling a plum blossom poem he once read, he recited with effortless grace:

“In icy woods and snowy glen stands this form,
Unmixed with peach and plum in fragrant swarm.
At midnight, sudden pure scent fills the air,
And spring spreads forth a thousand miles to warm.”

Though he recited softly, Shen Lian’s inner breath suffused his voice with a clear, youthful energy. The vocabulary of the poem was not particularly elegant, but the meaning was lofty and the imagery superb—matching Shen Lian’s own temperament in a way.

As he finished, Shen Lian felt a mysterious resonance within himself, as though spirit and intention had become one. The barrier that had long impeded him seemed to loosen ever so slightly.

“This poem won’t do,” murmured Shen Ruoxi.

“Why not?”

“It’s too good—a poem like this must be well known already. If I present it, won’t I be making a fool of myself?” She was both stunned and troubled. If Shen Lian’s poem had been merely above average, it would be fine. But this one, simple yet profound, must surely be famous, and it would be easy to be exposed.

“If you trust me, use it. If not, make up one yourself,” Shen Lian replied.

“All right. If I say you wrote it and I’m exposed, you’ll be the one embarrassed,” she retorted with a huff.

“I’d like to see anyone expose it,” Shen Lian thought to himself. Her words reminded him of something—when Ling Chongxiao had told a story, he’d recited a five-character poem by Wang Chongyang that also didn’t originate in this world. There might be some hidden mystery in that.

******

Time passed quickly. Today was the fifteenth—not a fine day. After two days of clear weather, a cold snap had returned. There were neither stars nor moon in the sky; only the lights on the ground illuminated the night.

The lamps of Jialan Temple shone brightly, turning night into day. Shen Lian saw Xin Shisi-niang for the second time, at Jialan Temple on Mount Jialan.

The lantern light flowed like water, spilling from the doorway, mingling with ice and snow, illuminating the ground like a shallow lake. A single plum tree cast sparse shadows, and beneath it stood a striking young maiden.

Pale yellow blossoms, a robe of deep crimson.

“You stand here, miss, and I hardly know whether to look at the flowers or at you,” Shen Lian said with a gentle smile. In this ancient mountain temple, on a starless, moonless night, he was perfectly at ease.

“First, I am not ‘people’. Second, the flowers aren’t as pretty as I am. You, Shen, are not very good at flattery, are you?” Xin Shisi-niang laughed freely.

“Plum blossoms, proud and unyielding; a beauty of ice and snow—both are to be admired and cherished. In my eyes, I cannot say which is more beautiful.”

“Before, when I met Ye Liuyun, I thought he couldn’t compare to you. Now, I think you can’t compare to him,” she said, flicking a plum branch with her finger, setting the shadows dancing.

“Oh? And why is that?” Shen Lian asked at the right moment.

“He, at least, is not blind.”

Shen Lian burst out laughing. “Of all I’ve met in life, only you, miss, are truly amusing.”

“And yet you’re not amusing at all—like a little old man. Where is the gift you promised?” Xin Shisi-niang extended both hands, as if passing by and demanding a toll.

ps: Thanks to Qu Ye Xiaoxiao for the 588 reward, Meiying Youmingjian for the 588 reward, and to Little Tree in the Morning, Xiujiang Dragon King, Kiss Your Heart, Book Friend 151122220328724, Friendship, Shadow Demon Mark, First Kiss Under the Night, Han Hanhan, and Sword Crying to the Ninth Heaven for their support.