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“Xiong Zhang, I did not know that Dong jie was going to pay you a visit at Xie mansion. Nor do her words reflect my opinion.”
Nihuang awkwardly raises the issue that has been on her mind since Xia Dong divulged to her (weeks after the conversation occurred) the conversation Xia Dong had with Mei Changsu about his intentions for Nihuang.
“I know, don’t let that bother you Nihuang.” With a smile “I’m just glad that you have a friend who cares so much about you.”
Nihuang pauses and then carefully adds “Although the betrothal was never officially annulled, even if Xiong Zhang chooses to take back the identity of Lin Shu one day, there is no obligation remaining nor expectation of anything from me.”
Mei Changsu glances past Nihuang into the courtyard, and Nihuang cannot resist following his eyes to where Gong-yu stands outside, waiting. Gong-yu is wearing a hat with a long veil to cover her face but even through her bellowing clothes she cuts an ethereally beautiful figure standing all in white against the swirling snow.
Mei Changsu turns his gaze back to Nihuang and continues “Nihuang, let me be plain. I was 12 and you 10 when we were betrothed. I am no longer that Lin Shu, nor are you that Mu Nihuang. I agree that we are free from obligation and expectation…” A pause, as if for emphasis “…in every way.”
Nihuang cannot help the pang shooting through her, but doesn’t flinch. She had expected this. Although moved by her recognizing him, he has made no indication that any romantic feelings remained on his part this last year.
She could hardly blame him: He was 19 when Mei Ling happened, Nihuang hasn't been there for him these 12 horrifying years, while (as she learnt from Li Gang through discrete enquiries) Gong-yu has been a devoted, able and loving companion.
In spite of all that, she knew: Only hearing Changsu tell her that they were done would quell her persistent, unreasonable hopes that have flared hot and unrelenting in her when she discovered who Mei Changsu was. That was the why she had come today and she had gotten what she expected.
She steels herself to rise steadily although she avoids Mei Changsu’s eyes by dusting imaginary crumbs off her gown. “I’m very glad that we have been so frank and clear. And I see that you have other visitors awaiting you Xiong Zhang, so I’ll take my leave now.”
As she steps past the threshold she allows herself one glance back at her Lin Shu gege who is already perusing a book, rubbing his fingers thoughtfully. She feels a surge of joy at the familiar gesture. That he was no longer her Lin Shu gege was a small price to pay for the miracle of him being alive that she has prayed for all these years.
She bows carefully, correctly to Gong-yu as they pass each other, and resolutely does not turn to watch Gong-yu enter the room.
So she doesn’t see that Gong-yu is directed into a separate room by Li Gang and doesn’t actually get to see Mei Changsu.
Instead, inside the room Mei Changsu says in a tired voice even as he turns the page on his book, “Lin Chen old friend, if you’re quite done eavesdropping, you can come out now.”
Lin Chen pops out cheerfully from behind the screen and grins “Ah… I never could fool you!”
“But” Lin Chen adds “I am very proud of you.”
Mei Changsu continues without lifting his eyes from his book “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Why I’m impressed by your play-writing skills! Having Li Gang exaggerate to the Mu lass about Gong-yu’s time and place in the Jiang Zuo and having Gong-yu stand around waiting for Master 13th in the courtyard in full view of the room the last three times that the Mu lass has been around? Oh yes… and that ‘free from obligation… in every way’ phrase? You should write operas!”
Lin Chen sits himself down next to Mei Changsu, as Mei Changsu starts “Lin Chen…”
“Yes,” Lin Chen holds up his hand to interrupt before Mei Changsu can have his say “I know, you’re going to tell me that it’s all for that Mu lass’s own good blah, blah, blah, and that you aren’t actually going to take my advice to ravish Gong-yu while you have the chance,” he sighs sourly “nor are you planning on seeing Mu lass much anymore so my source of dramatic fun here is at an end."
With a little dramatic sigh "What a spoilsport you are!”
“But” he comments, leaning into Changsu’s personal space conspiratorially, “I must say that the Mu lass certainly has it bad. Did you know what she did after Li Gang ‘told’ her about Gong-yu and yourself? She went home and summoned her steward to make a deed transfer.”
“Lin Chen …”
Lin Chen gestures again for patience, “Once the deed transfer comes through in a few months, Gong-yu will own a small, very obscure but also well-fortified estate in the Ling hills.”
Mei Changsu freezes at that.
Lin Chen smirks, “If I recall right, that’s the area you, Jingyan and her spent a summer as kids training. It is an isolated region, far from unfriendly ears and eyes. Yet is only a few days walking from Meiling and the location is particularly familiar to you. She has kept it up all this time, sending someone to discretely check each year on the wells and food-stocks.”
“Do you think” Lin Chen pretends to look thoughtful “ she had hoped that somehow you would survive, and know to go there for shelter?”
Mei Changsu’s fingers tighten around his book even as he continues to look at it sightlessly.
Lin Chen cheerfully continues, “Perhaps, she wants Gong-yu to have that token-of-her-hope as a token-of-her-gratitude for having stayed with you all these years? Or perhaps she thinks you will find it reassuring that, should anything befall you here, Gong-yu has a safe-house which even Jiang Zuo alliance will know nothing of?”
“Pity isn't it?” Lin Chen notes as he stretches back. Changsu gives up pretense of reading and turns his haunted eyes toward the courtyard where Nihuang no longer is. “All that work you put in and only one thing is for sure...”
“... she still has it bad for you.”