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墨書 Inktalez
The carriage suddenly jolted violently, as if it had been struck by something. Before I could react, the entire vehicle tilted and then crashed heavily into the ditch by the roadside. My head slammed against the wall of the carriage, and a wave of sharp pain surged through me, plunging my vision into darkness.
"Damn it!" I gritted my teeth against the pain, reaching up to touch my forehead, my fingertips coming away stained with warm blood. Struggling to crawl out of the carriage, I found my clothes and skirt covered in mud and grass, a sight that left me feeling utterly disheveled.
Outside, a commotion erupted as several passersby gathered nearby, pointing and whispering among themselves.
"Look! Someone's in trouble!"
"That’s a Young Lady! How pitiful."
"In this day and age, it's too dangerous for a woman to travel alone."
I looked up to see a group of elegantly dressed Young Masters riding by on magnificent horses, clearly from affluent families. Leading them was an exceptionally handsome young man clad in a Lake Blue Robe, exuding an air of elegance mixed with authority.
His dismount was fluid and graceful as he approached me with steady, powerful strides.
"Miss, are you alright?" he asked gently, extending his hand to help me.
Instinctively, I took a step back, watching him warily while gripping the hem of my clothing tightly. After experiencing Ji Hanzhou's betrayal, I had lost trust in all men, especially those who appeared so charming and refined like this Young Master.
Noticing my caution, the young man withdrew his hand and offered a slight smile.
"I am Murong Huan. May I ask where you are headed?"
I hesitated but decided to answer truthfully. "To Nan Zhang."
"Nan Zhang?" A flicker of surprise crossed Murong Huan's eyes before he regained his composure. "What a coincidence! We are also headed there. If you don't mind, why not travel with us?"
Alarm bells rang in my mind. What a coincidence? Could he be sent by the the Ji Family?
"Why are you traveling to Nan Zhang alone?" he asked again.
I bit my lip and remained silent.
"My apologies," Murong Huan said with a slight nod. "I should not have pried."
The attendant behind him had already inspected my carriage and shook his head, saying, "Young Master, the axle is broken and cannot be repaired."
A wave of despair washed over me; I was truly in a dilemma now.
Noticing my hesitation, Murong Huan smiled and said, "If you are not at ease, you can certainly keep your distance from us. However, in this desolate wilderness, being alone may not be safe."
I looked around; the barren mountains surrounded us, with no village in sight and no inn nearby.
"I can pay to hire your protection," I said, forcing myself to sound confident. "Once we reach Nan Zhang, I won't owe you a single coin less."
Murong Huan paused for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"You are quite amusing," he shook his head. "While Murong Huan may not be a great benefactor, I am not one to ignore someone in danger, nor would I take advantage of their plight."
Heat rose to my cheeks, but I still found it hard to trust him easily.
"Then I shall consider it a favor from you," he said before I could respond, turning to instruct his attendant, "Go, bring my spare horse."
A magnificent white steed was led before me.
"Can you ride?" Murong Huan asked.
I nodded; during my time at the Shen Residence, I often accompanied Father on horseback rides in the countryside.
"That's good," he gestured for me to mount. "Please."
I carefully climbed onto the horse and maintained a safe distance from them.
Thus, I followed Murong Huan and his party on the journey southward.
Along the way, Murong Huan was courteous and never overstepped his bounds, which allowed me to lower my guard slightly.
He was well-educated and eloquent, with a deep understanding of poetry and literature.
During one of our breaks, he casually picked a wildflower and recited: "Wildflowers scent the ground; what use is it to gather them? I gift you one spring bloom to remember me by when we part."
I couldn't help but smile; he was quite refined.
" Young Master Murong has a poetic spirit," I replied without thinking, "but while these wildflowers are beautiful, they are ultimately rootless and will wither away in an instant."
A flicker of surprise crossed Murong Huan's eyes before he chuckled and said, "You speak wisely. Life is short; beautiful things, even if fleeting, are worth cherishing, don't you think?"
I fell silent, recalling Ji Hanzhou; that beautiful relationship now felt like nothing more than a dream.
Three days later, we finally arrived at Nan Zhang.
Murong Huan was to take me to my aunt's house, but I politely declined.
"Thank you for your protection along the way," I said sincerely, "but I would like to walk the rest of the journey on my own."
Murong Huan looked at me deeply and smiled, "Very well. However, if you need any assistance, feel free to come find me at Murong Residence."
I nodded and turned to leave, but in my heart, I thought that this might be the last time we would meet.
Following the address given by my uncle, I arrived at my aunt's house, only to find it was an ordinary music shop. The storefront was small but tidy and well-kept.
"You say you are Shen Zhi Yi? The niece of Shen Changfeng?" My aunt—also known as the Li—eyed me with a furrowed brow.
She appeared to be in her early forties, with a delicate appearance that conveyed a sense of sharpness and competence.
I nodded and took out the letter my uncle had given me. "Uncle sent me to seek refuge with you."
The Li took the letter, quickly scanned it, and sighed.
"Your Second Aunt is spouting nonsense again. What rich young lady from the south? I merely run a small music shop to make ends meet."
My heart sank; it seemed that the bright future my uncle had painted for me was nothing more than a comforting lie.
"But since you're here, you might as well stay," the Li said after sizing me up. "I happen to need someone to teach music; do you know how?"
I forced a smile; having been proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting since childhood, it seemed that my skills would finally come in handy.
"I know a bit," I replied softly.
"That's good," the Li nodded. "From today on, you will be the music instructor at this shop."
I gazed at the humble music shop, feeling a mix of emotions.
Once the young lady of the Shen Family, I had now fallen to teaching music in this small establishment.
Fate truly is ironic.
But at least I had escaped from that tumultuous place in the capital and could start anew.
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