Chapter 121 — He Came for Her

CHAPTER 121

He Came for Her

“Young Master Shi, this way!” Ling Rong called at the gate.

Inside, Ling Rong led them first to the ancestral room, where the clan's tablets stood behind a bronze censer and a steward held the visiting record open.

The steward read the year's marriages into it — names, houses, the day each couple entered the family. At Ling Qingzhu's entry, Ling Guoli spoke from the door.

“A peddler's name beside our dead,” Ling Guoli said.

“Read it in full,” Ling Shufeng said.

The steward read: Shi Feng, alchemist, third of Great Liang's representatives, husband of Ling Qingzhu, the marriage entered in the capital's register. Ling Shufeng lit three sticks at the censer and put them in Shi Feng's hands herself.

“The record is the record,” Ling Shufeng said. “Bow.”

He bowed to the tablets, and Ling Qingzhu bowed beside him, and the clan watched.

Ling Qingzhu walked beside Shi Feng, her white veil tied beneath her black hair. Two rows of lanterns lit the Ling residence. Servants carried dishes through the courtyard, and relatives stopped talking when Ling Qingzhu entered on Shi Feng's arm.

He felt their attention move from her veiled face to his sword, then back to the hands resting together. A month ago, some of these people would've looked only at the marriage certificate and wondered how quickly it could be forgotten.

Now an early Foundation Establishment alchemist stood beside their most celebrated daughter. The change made everyone very welcoming.

“Our family's good fortune!” Ling Jian said, stepping forward with a cup.

The broad-shouldered relative was at Bone Refinement, with most of his bones refined. He looked at Shi Feng's hands before greeting his own cousin.

“I've wanted to meet you for a long time,” Ling Jian said.

“We've met,” Shi Feng replied. “You wanted to know whether I delivered ointment.”

Ling Jian's smile froze. Ling Qingzhu gave him a cold glance.

“Find your seat,” Ling Qingzhu said.

The cousin found it at once.

Shi Feng followed her to the table, leaving the old insults where they belonged.

An older woman, Ling Shufeng, greeted them from the head of the table. Her late Foundation Establishment presence was restrained, and her hair was almost entirely white. Ling Qingzhu bowed to her with real respect.

“You've become difficult to see,” Ling Shufeng said. “The whole capital gets a glimpse before your family does.”

“The whole capital doesn't ask me eleven questions before tea,” Ling Qingzhu replied.

Ling Shufeng laughed and waved them down. Shi Feng found himself liking the reply more than the wine set before him.

The first disagreement came from Elder Ling Guoli, seated two places below Ling Shufeng.

“The consort's people still ask after our household,” Ling Guoli said. “Royal kinship would have served us better than this delay.”

Ling Qingzhu's fingers tightened beside her cup.

“I'm married,” Ling Qingzhu said.

“I can read the register,” Ling Guoli replied. “They're asking about a younger daughter in the western branch now. We should receive the messenger properly.”

“Ask the girl before you prepare her answer,” Ling Shufeng said.

Ling Guoli drank instead of replying. The elder faction hadn't abandoned its profitable match. It had found another woman to discuss.

Ling Qingzhu moved her untouched cup away from the table edge. Shi Feng shifted the dish nearer her.

Other relatives began discussing which kingdom would send the strongest candidates.

Ling Jian declared Great Liang's crown prince would take the championship.

Shi Feng ate a piece of fish.

“You've fought in the qualification,” Ling Jian said to him. “You must know how great the gap is.”

“I know how large a plate is,” Shi Feng replied. “Move your elbow.”

The cousin looked down. His sleeve rested in the sauce.

Several people laughed. Ling Qingzhu’s eyes brightened above her veil, and the conversation moved away from Sima Yu before it could become unpleasant.

Later, Ling Shufeng asked Ling Qingzhu about Hundred Flower Valley. Her questions were practical. What sword method attracted her? What would she do if another sect offered better resources? Did she want instruction, or only a famous name?

Ling Qingzhu answered clearly. Shi Feng listened without interrupting. Her ambition was real, and she understood why she wanted a different path from the capital's young ladies.

“And if you enter different sects?” Ling Shufeng asked, looking between them.

Ling Qingzhu's fingers stopped beside her cup.

“We'll decide when there's a choice to make,” Shi Feng said.

“A marriage isn't a road you choose at a crossing,” Ling Shufeng said.

“Neither is a cultivation path,” Shi Feng replied calmly. “She shouldn't give up a useful teacher just to make our route look tidy.”

Ling Qingzhu looked at him. Her expression softened before she remembered the people watching.

“I can answer for myself,” Ling Qingzhu said.

“Then answer,” Shi Feng replied, smiling.

“I agree with him,” Ling Qingzhu said.

Ling Shufeng laughed again. The cousins looked disappointed.

After the meal, Ling Qingzhu led him into a smaller courtyard. A stone pond stood beneath an old pine. The music from the main hall sounded distant here.

“You didn't have to say that,” Ling Qingzhu said.

“You don't want a useful teacher?” Shi Feng asked.

“About my choice,” Ling Qingzhu replied. “I didn't ask you to defend it.”

“You don't need to ask for every small thing,” Shi Feng said.

She went quiet. He rested one hand on the low stone wall and watched a fish turn beneath the water.

“Did I make things difficult for your work?” Ling Qingzhu asked.

“No,” Shi Feng replied. “I finished what I promised.”

“You could've taken another order,” Ling Qingzhu said.

“I could've done many things,” Shi Feng replied. “I'm here.”

The plain answer pleased her and left her unsure what to say. She reached for a loose strand of hair instead.

A servant hurried into the courtyard and asked whether Ling Qingzhu would return. Her younger relatives wanted to see the sword she used in the qualification. Ling Qingzhu's expression turned impatient.

“Go,” Shi Feng said. “I'll wait.”

“They'll talk for ages,” Ling Qingzhu warned.

“Then don't let them,” Shi Feng replied.

Her eyes curved above the veil before she left. He remained beside the pond, enjoying the quiet until Ling Jian appeared with another cup.

“You have a good wife,” Ling Jian said. “Very generous too.”

“You want something,” Shi Feng said.

“Only some advice,” Ling Jian replied. “There's a pill that helps refine the last bones. Perhaps you could arrange a few at the family price.”

“The family price is the price after you pay,” Shi Feng replied.

The cousin stared, then laughed uncertainly. Shi Feng didn't join him.

Ling Jian left after a few more useless words. Shi Feng returned his attention to the fish.

A little later, Ling Shufeng came through the side door and stopped beside the wall. She watched him for a moment before speaking.

“Ling Jian has already complained,” Ling Shufeng said.

“He works quickly,” Shi Feng replied.

“He complains quickly,” Ling Shufeng corrected. “His work takes longer.”

Shi Feng smiled. The elder looked toward the hall, where Ling Qingzhu's voice rose above the others.

“She doesn't like being told what to do,” Ling Shufeng said.

“I noticed,” Shi Feng replied.

“And you aren't easy to push either,” Ling Shufeng said. “I wondered whether you'd spend the whole evening fighting.”

“You invited me to eat,” Shi Feng replied. “The dishes weren't bad enough to fight over.”

The elder laughed. She didn't offer him a position or ask for a promise of lifelong service. She simply told him which side gate opened toward the quieter road, then returned to the hall.

Shi Feng stayed beside the pond, glad Ling Qingzhu had someone in her family who could speak without turning every sentence into a request.

When Ling Qingzhu came back, she carried a little paper bundle. Inside were two warm cakes she saved from the hall.

“They took too long,” Ling Qingzhu said, handing him one.

“You came back,” Shi Feng replied.

“Where else would I go?” Ling Qingzhu asked.

The question was careless. It still made him happy.

They ate beside the pond before leaving. On the way home, she leaned lightly against his arm. He didn't mention Ling Jian's request.

He thought, I chose this evening. I would've chosen it without an invitation seal or a marriage certificate. At their gate, she stopped him before he reached for the latch.

“I was glad you came,” Ling Qingzhu said.

“Then it was worth coming,” Shi Feng replied.

Her eyes smiled, and he believed they both understood the warmth between them. At home, with the gate shut and her veil removed, she called him to help with the stubborn clasp.

He freed it. She tucked the loosened hair behind her ear, and his hand stopped in midair.

“Again?” Ling Qingzhu asked.

“I’m checking for another knot,” Shi Feng replied.

“On my face?” Ling Qingzhu asked.

He grinned. She pushed his hand down, laughing, then asked him to stay while she combed her hair. He sat without another excuse.