Chapter 203: Misunderstanding

Lan Ruoting had originally intended to find some other expense they could squeeze a little more from. Since Shang Shuqing was convinced Master Dao would not object, however, he said no more.

Truthfully, Shang Chaozong himself felt somewhat guilty about offering only ten thousand gold coins. He was afraid it would be embarrassing to put forward. But Qingshan Commandery had a hundred neglected matters waiting to be set right, and there were simply too many urgent places where money was needed. Since his younger sister had volunteered to take responsibility for the matter, Shang Chaozong was more than happy to let her.

He nodded. “Qing'er makes sense. It is easier for you women to speak about such things. You handle it.”

Lan Ruoting glanced at Shang Chaozong, his expression slightly peculiar. An unmarried maiden was always running over to a man's side, and that was supposed to make things easier? Was he not afraid idle gossip might arise and damage his own sister's reputation?

In truth, Shang Chaozong had never worried about that at all. The reason was very simple: his younger sister was frighteningly ugly. What man would harbor improper thoughts toward her? He also did not believe Master Dao's tastes were that extreme.

Of course, this confidence also rested on his trust in Niu Youdao's character. After knowing him for so long, Shang Chaozong had never once seen Master Dao make any demands where women were concerned. Unlike certain cultivators of Tianyu Sect. Once the amount of ten thousand gold coins had been settled, Lan Ruoting immediately ordered someone to bring the money.

It was not that they possessed only ten thousand gold coins in ready funds. They could still produce a little over a hundred thousand in cash if absolutely necessary.

The problem was that much of that money had already been allocated. Their finances were extremely tight. If they squeezed out money here, other urgent expenditures had to be cut.

Peng Youzai and the other senior figures of Tianyu Sect had arrived, as had the senior leadership of Liuxian Sect and the other two sects. There was no question of failing to receive them properly. Entertaining them had already forced Qingshan Commandery to squeeze its strained budget once. Now another ten thousand had to be found. The official in charge of the accounts arrived and presented the ledgers. Shang Chaozong and Lan Ruoting spent quite some time discussing where to find the ten thousand gold coins.

The saying that a single coin could stump a hero was not pleasant to experience. After weighing one expense after another, they finally decided to cut military expenditures and temporarily withhold part of the soldiers' pay.

The other pressing costs truly could not be touched. They concerned the hearts of the people throughout Qingshan Commandery. Mishandle them, and disorder might follow. For the moment, the army was controllable.

Local officials and their dependents, however, had to eat every meal. If the officials and their families were left hungry, how were they supposed to govern the localities?

The soldiers ate from communal army kitchens and did not have to pay for their own meals. Moreover, everyone could already see that they now occupied Qingshan Commandery and that future benefits lay ahead.

They could explain matters carefully to the officers below, promise that the withheld pay would certainly be made up later, and have the officers pacify their men. There was no better option. Shang Chaozong personally signed the military-expenditure entry in the accounts, deducting ten thousand gold coins. A gold draft with a face value of ten thousand gold coins was delivered into Lan Ruoting's hands. Lan Ruoting then passed it to Shang Shuqing.

With the gold draft in hand, Shang Shuqing guessed that Niu Youdao, having only just returned, would not retire so early. During their earlier reunion she had never found a proper chance to speak with him alone.

With thoughts of her own, she tucked away the gold draft and returned to the garden estate behind the Commandery Governor's Residence. Niu Youdao indeed had not gone to bed. He was bathing.

“Commandery Princess, perhaps you could sit in the hall for a while? Once Master Dao finishes bathing, I can notify him. How would that be?”

Yuan Fang, standing guard outside, cautiously made the suggestion. There was a trace of guilty unease hidden beneath his words. He did not understand how Black Peony had somehow gotten together with Master Dao either.

In any case, he had personally watched Black Peony go in to bathe with Master Dao. So much time had passed and she had still not come out. A lone man and woman bathing together. What good could possibly be happening in there? Yuan Fang was also afraid it would look bad if an outsider saw them. Black Peony was considerably older than Master Dao, after all. He had been sighing about it inwardly for some time. With Master Dao's circumstances, what kind of woman could he not find?

Why fool around with Black Peony?

Shang Shuqing smiled. “No need. I will wait here for Master Dao.”

Even if they could not produce much money, they ought at least to show proper sincerity.

“Uh...”

Yuan Fang was speechless. Given Shang Shuqing's status, he could hardly drive her away by force. He was still trying to think of some excuse to send her elsewhere, lest she see something that would look improper, when the bathhouse door suddenly creaked open. Black Peony emerged first. Her figure was full and graceful. She wore loose clothing after her bath, and damp hair spilled over her shoulders. Niu Youdao came strolling out behind her, likewise dressed casually after bathing. Shang Shuqing stood motionless in the courtyard.

She stared at the scene. At the man and woman who had clearly just emerged after bathing together. Her bright eyes widened. Then, in the instant understanding struck, something clenched violently inside her chest. Pain surged so fiercely that it was almost impossible to describe. For a heartbeat, it felt as though something had smashed directly into her heart. The unfamiliar sensation spread through her whole body. She had never experienced anything like it before.

Now that it came without warning, it cut so deeply that it seemed carved into the bone. She did not understand why merely seeing this scene would provoke such a violent reaction. For once, the normally intelligent and self-possessed Shang Shuqing was thrown completely into confusion. Her composure vanished. At a loss for what to do, she turned and walked away. Niu Youdao had just reached the edge of the steps and was about to descend when he froze. What was wrong with this woman? He hurriedly called after her.

“Commandery Princess, did you need something?”

Still walking, Shang Shuqing answered, “Nothing. Qing'er was presumptuous.”

She did not look back. A moment later, she turned and disappeared beyond the moon gate. Black Peony, standing beside Niu Youdao, looked thoughtful.

Niu Youdao slowly descended the steps and asked Yuan Fang, “Did the Commandery Princess come for something?”

Yuan Fang nodded.

“It looked like she had some business. She was waiting here for you just now. I suppose...”

He glanced at Black Peony, who was slowly following them.

“I suppose she misunderstood something and was afraid she had interrupted Master Dao's good time.”

Niu Youdao gave him a cold sidelong look.

“You are a monk. Where do all these crooked thoughts come from?”

Yuan Fang muttered, “Isn't it obvious? Unless someone is blind, who couldn't tell?”

Niu Youdao looked back toward the bathhouse, then at Black Peony's appearance, then at his own. Combined with what Shang Shuqing had just said, he thought about it and realized there really was room for misunderstanding. Still, he did not care much. If she misunderstood, then she misunderstood. There was nothing worth explaining.

He guessed Shang Shuqing had not come for anything urgent. With that woman's intelligence, she knew how to distinguish what mattered from what did not. If it had truly been important, she would never have fled simply because of a small misunderstanding. Since it was not urgent, there was no reason to rush at this hour. The next time they met, he could simply ask. Niu Youdao turned and walked away.

Black Peony followed beside him and asked with a smile, “Master Dao, has this Commandery Princess taken a fancy to you?”

Niu Youdao gave her a sidelong glance and could not be bothered answering such a pointless question. He had no interest in Shang Shuqing.

It had nothing to do with beauty or ugliness. Even if Shang Shuqing had been as beautiful as an immortal maiden, Niu Youdao still had no intention of involving himself in those messy affairs. And Shang Shuqing was, in fact, frighteningly ugly.

No matter how little importance he placed on appearances and how much he valued what lay inside, his tastes were not that extreme. Watching his reactions before and after, and having deliberately sounded him out, Black Peony understood. Master Dao truly felt nothing for that woman. Then again, it made sense. That woman's appearance really was frightening enough. If one ignored her identity and background, Black Peony doubted any man would take a liking to her.

As a woman who had already been through such things herself, Black Peony slowly shook her head and sighed inwardly. Beauty had nothing to do with it. What woman did not have a time when love first stirred in her heart? It seemed this was simply another foolish girl who had to cross that hurdle.

Black Peony could only hope the foolish girl understood what she truly wanted and would not let a passing awakening of affection blind her judgment. Otherwise, the one hurt in the end would still be herself. Black Peony felt some pity and sympathy for Shang Shuqing. As another woman, she could empathize. She understood all too clearly what a woman's appearance meant to a woman.

To be so ugly and still walk openly among people with such calm composure—how strong did someone have to be to endure that? It was not only Black Peony.

Even Feng Ruonan, who had always been blunt and unceremonious with Shang Chaozong's people, had instinctively treated Shang Shuqing with warmth. At present, almost no woman subconsciously regarded Shang Shuqing as a threat. It was difficult even to feel jealous of her. Sometimes, being ugly was not entirely a bad thing. At that moment, Shang Shuqing had stopped in the shadows beside a wall. One hand rested against the masonry. Her head was lowered. Her other hand slowly rose. Soft fingertips lightly touched the ugly face covered in blemishes.

Those fingertips trembled faintly. Her eyes were dark with self-conscious shame and inferiority. Yet precisely because of that, she quickly regained clarity. Because she knew it was impossible. Then she asked herself what in the world she was doing. How could she let this delay proper business? How was she supposed to report back to her brother and Mister Lan? Her brother would certainly still be waiting for her answer. He would certainly ask what Master Dao's attitude had been.

“Who goes there?”

A figure rounded the wall ahead and barked the question. The voice was hard and powerful, carrying a heavy, forceful presence. The newcomer was Yuan Gang.

As soon as he arrived, he had carefully inspected Niu Youdao's new residence. Now, rounding this corner, he suddenly discovered someone hidden in the shadows by the wall.

“It is me.”

Shang Shuqing straightened. Seeing her with one hand braced against the wall, Yuan Gang approached and looked more closely.

“Commandery Princess, why are you here? Are you unwell?”

Shang Shuqing's thoughts turned. She immediately found a way to salvage the errand.

“I came because I had business with Master Dao. I did not expect him to be bathing with Black Peony. I was afraid I had interrupted his pleasure, so I hurried away. Only afterward did I remember that I still have not carried out the matter my brother entrusted to me. I did not know what to do.”

The moment Yuan Gang heard this, he understood. Black Peony's shameless behavior had caused another misunderstanding.

“There was no interruption, and Master Dao was not indulging in anything.”

He said bluntly, “Master Dao and Black Peony are not what you think. Commandery Princess, you have misunderstood.”

“If you have proper business, Master Dao should not have retired yet. Come with me.”

When Shang Shuqing saw Niu Youdao again, it was in the reception hall. By then, she had recovered her calm and reason. Black Peony watched her reaction, bright eyes flickering twice.

Seeing that Yuan Gang had brought Shang Shuqing back, Niu Youdao—hair loose and still dressed casually—did not concern himself with what had happened earlier. He smiled.

“It seems the Commandery Princess truly does have business. What instructions do you have for me?”

“Master Dao is teasing me.”

Shang Shuqing took out the gold draft and placed it on the low table. With slender fingers, she gently pushed it toward Niu Youdao. Niu Youdao looked at the denomination and appeared puzzled.

“Commandery Princess, what is the meaning of this? This is for me?”

There was truth to the saying that poverty shortens one's ambitions. Even though Shang Shuqing was the daughter of a prince of the imperial clan, she looked slightly embarrassed at this moment.

“Master Dao has people around him who also need money for daily expenses. Unfortunately, Qingshan Commandery has just changed hands and everything is waiting to be restored. Please do not think this amount too small. Accept it for now. Once the various tax revenues begin coming in, we will make up the rest of your stipend.”

So it really was for him. Niu Youdao understood. Only, the look he gave the gold draft was somewhat strange. That look made Shang Shuqing faintly uneasy.

Had she judged wrongly?

Did he truly think it was too little? Niu Youdao raised his eyes.

After considering the matter, he slowly asked, “Are Qingshan Commandery's finances very strained at the moment?”

[End of Chapter 203]