The courtyard was brightly lit, yet inside the main hall, all was quiet, with only the occasional crackle of burning candles breaking the silence.
Shen Yunshu sat in her usual seat, raising her eyes to see the restless young man across from her.
He was seated in the same armchair that Pei Huaijin had occupied earlier, but the bearing and demeanor of the two brothers were worlds apart.
Today had brought no small commotion, yet Pei Huaijin had remained calm and composed, unruffled by the upheaval, explaining the situation to her with poise, even going so far as to probe whether she was involved in the attempted elopement.
Although Shen Yunshu had truly broken out in a cold sweat at his probing, she couldn’t help but admit that his calm in the face of disaster was reassuring.
He was nothing like the Pei Huaian before her now, who, despite the “An”—peace—in his name, was all agitation and impatience, not half as steady as his elder brother.
Every time Shen Yunshu looked at him, she could only sigh inwardly.
She had once thought well enough of him, but only when considering him as a future brother-in-law. He and her third sister had similar tempers and tastes; two pampered children could make a happy pair together.
But now that he was to become her own husband, Shen Yunshu looked at him anew—and could no longer see his merits.
“Why isn’t Eldest Brother out yet?” the young man across from her muttered, standing up and sitting down in turn, then getting up again. “No, I have to go check…”
Shen Yunshu propped her forehead on her hand, watching as he moved toward the side room. When he reached the door, he lacked the courage to knock, hesitated a moment, then turned back, awkwardly coming over to her. “Sister-in-law, would you come with me?”
Once, Shen Yunshu had been pleased to hear him call her “sister-in-law,” but today was not like the days before. In the future, who would he even be calling by that name?
“My engagement to your brother is no more. Don’t call me that again.”
Pei Huaian’s eyes, bright as phoenixes, widened. “Even you have given in?”
Shen Yunshu replied calmly, “The matter is settled. There’s nothing I can do.”
“If you have no way, I do,” said Pei Huaian. “I’ve already spoken with Youran—she’ll never agree to marry Eldest Brother.”
“If you’re truly certain, then why are you so anxious?” Shen Yunshu saw through him as easily as she could see through her own younger sister. “I suppose that inside just now, Third Sister didn’t give you a definite answer, did she?”
The youth, seen through so easily, deflated at once. “But I told her—I really don’t care about her and Eldest Brother… whatever happened. Doesn’t she believe me?”
Shen Yunshu shook her head with a slight smile. He was, after all, still a youth, impulsive and emotional. These days, women valued reputation, even more so chastity; how could a single “I don’t care” win trust? With such sense against his elder brother, he stood no chance.
It was easy to foresee that once Pei Huaijin emerged with Third Sister’s answer, Pei Huaian would be sorely disappointed.
“If Third Sister doesn’t choose you, what will you do?” Shen Yunshu wanted him to prepare himself.
“If she doesn’t pick me…” Under her steady gaze, Pei Huaian could only consider the worst. “Then I’ll go to Quanzhou with Father, and never see her or Eldest Brother again.”
Go to Quanzhou?
Quanzhou was a thousand li from the capital. It would help him avoid Lu Yi, but Third Sister would still be left at the Pei residence. Shen Yunshu couldn’t just leave her.
“No, I can’t go to Quanzhou with you…”
Pei Huaian was startled. “I never said you should! We’re innocent of anything improper—you don’t need to remarry me, do you?”
“But I heard your brother say the elders want the two marriages exchanged…”
“Even so, I can’t sacrifice my whole life just to satisfy the elders!”
“You wouldn’t be sacrificing your whole life—just delaying it a year. What do you think?”
Pei Huaian was baffled. “What do you mean?”
Shen Yunshu crooked her finger at him. “I have a way that satisfies everyone. Come closer, I’ll tell you quietly…”
Pei Huaian’s wavering gaze met the clarity in her eyes, and his heart skipped a beat. Unconsciously, he swallowed.
Since leaving the side room, his nerves had been on edge, unable to sit still—not just out of worry that Shen Youran might change her mind and marry his brother, but also because he couldn’t feel at ease sharing a room with Shen Yunshu.
After several days of spring dreams, he had been telling himself that the person in his dreams was Shen Youran.
But in the dream, his mind was not his own, and time after time, the person beneath him became Shen Yunshu. Each time he woke, he’d blush with shame and try to convince himself: it must be because he’d seen Shen Yunshu more often, so he was confusing the sisters—he had always wanted to dream of Shen Youran.
He truly believed that once he married Shen Youran, with her by his side every day and night, he’d no longer confuse them, and only Shen Youran would appear in his dreams.
But now, with her simply beckoning him with a finger, he was helpless to control himself. He stepped closer, bent down at her signal, and brought his ear to her lips.
A soft breath drifted over, brushing lightly against his ear.
“You and Third Sister are fated but not destined. I do regret it. I know you don’t want to marry me—after the marriage exchange, I’ll write you a separation letter. Outwardly, we’ll pretend to be husband and wife, but behind closed doors, we’ll live as brother and sister…”
“In a year, we can part ways, saying our personalities don’t match—it should be easier for the elders to accept then. If you meet someone you truly like during the year, I’ll cover for you. If needed, we can separate sooner…”
“If I meet a man I like, I’ll tell you as well—we won’t interfere in each other’s future matches…”
He was so close now, almost touching her slender shoulder and neck, catching a faint fragrance—subtle and clear. She must have used jasmine scent.
Pei Huaian’s hands unconsciously balled into fists as he struggled to suppress his stray thoughts, forcing his gaze away. At last, when her breath withdrew from his ear, he straightened up and let out a long, heavy breath.
“Seventh Young Master, do you agree?”
She sat calmly, looking at him with bright, sincere eyes that made it hard to refuse.
Truth be told, he had only half-listened, but it sounded like a good plan. Meeting those eyes full of honesty, he nodded almost without thinking. “That… works, I guess…”
As soon as he spoke, he saw her lower her lashes, a smile blooming in her eyes and at the corners of her mouth—like a pearl shining with light.
“Then it’s settled…”
Her gaze held his, but his heart was left hanging in midair.
Before long, they heard the door open and close. Pei Huaian looked back—his elder brother had finally come out, wide sleeves moving as he led out a drooping figure from behind him.
The very hand he had held not long ago was now obediently in his brother’s grasp.
Pei Huaian understood in an instant.
Though he and Shen Yunshu had made their own agreement, he couldn’t help but go over and confirm with the downcast person. “You really aren’t choosing me?”
She looked up, glancing at him quickly, her eyes tinged red.
“No,” she lowered her head, her voice about to break. “If I was wrong, I have to accept it…”
Pei Huaian, hearing her refuse him after all, felt less disappointed than he had imagined. “Alright then… Eldest Brother, take good care of her.”
“I will,” replied Pei Huaijin, then asked, “And what will you do?”
Pei Huaian scratched his head, embarrassed. “What else can I do? Let’s switch, then.”
His change in attitude was so swift, it was as if the one who’d been stomping his feet in the main hall before, refusing Lady Shen, had been someone else entirely.
“In that case, I’ll go inform the elders in the Main Hall. It’s late. Take your…,” he paused, glancing at the elegant figure behind Pei Huaian, before continuing, “Take your seventh sister-in-law back to Ciyou Courtyard to rest. At dawn tomorrow, you must rise early to pay respects to the elders—don’t be late.”
“Alright.” As Pei Huaian replied, Shen Yunshu had already walked over to him.
She didn’t know how Pei Huaijin had managed to persuade Third Sister, but seeing her on the verge of tears, she really wanted to stay and comfort her. But it was too late, and with the order to leave given, Shen Yunshu could only follow Pei Huaian to Ciyou Courtyard.
“Youran, get some rest, don’t cry anymore,” she stroked her sister’s head, “Sister will always be with you.”
Shen Youran sniffled and nodded.
Though she didn’t want her sister to marry Pei Huaian, having her sister still at the Pei residence was at least some comfort.
After Shen Yunshu and Pei Huaian left, Pei Huaijin let go of her hand. “Go to bed. I’ll be back soon.”
“Mm.” Her voice was as soft as a mosquito, and she turned and shuffled toward the bedroom, dragging her feet, her back full of reluctance—as if there were wild beasts lurking in that room.
Still too young, all the mannerisms of a little girl—she would certainly require his care in the days to come.
Pei Huaijin frowned, walked to the Main Hall in the moonlight to report to the elders, and when he returned, the bedroom lights were already out.
Let it be—give her a few days to adjust.
Pei Huaijin turned to the study in the east wing and slept lightly through the night.
The moon set and the stars faded; the fifth watch had arrived. Danruo gazed at the person sleeping soundly behind the red curtains. Though she was reluctant, she still gently woke her.
“Miss, it’s time to get up. This morning, the new bride must kneel to pay respects to the elders. It wouldn’t do to be late…”
Having tossed and turned all night, Shen Youran had only fallen asleep at dawn, and now it felt like she’d slept just a quarter of an hour before being woken.
Upon waking, she clung to Danruo and cried, “If I’d known marriage was like this, I’d rather never have married at all…”
“Miss, don’t talk like a child…” Danruo soothed her softly, expertly helping her dress and wash, then led her to the vanity to comb her hair.
A hazy figure appeared in the carved bronze mirror. Shen Youran rubbed her eyes, but still couldn’t see clearly, knowing her eyes were acting up again. “Danruo, bring me the medicine to steam my eyes in a bit…”
“Yes.” Danruo had already noticed her mistress’s swollen, red eyes. She’d tried to cover the circles with powder, but the red veins in the pupils could not be hidden.
But before she could prepare the herbal steam, someone had already come to hurry them—twice. “Young Madam, it’s almost past the fifth watch, and the eldest young master has been waiting outside for a long time.”
So Shen Youran had to step out with her blurry eyes, planning to steam them only after bowing to the elders.
The moon had faded, and the morning was still dim. As soon as Shen Youran stepped out, she saw a tall, slender figure in blue under the eaves of the east wing, standing straight as a pine.
She drew a deep breath and shuffled over to his side. “Let’s go.”
The man turned, clasped his hands and greeted her, “Young Madam, good morning.”
Shen Youran: “…Ah?”
She looked up, puzzled, and through her blurry vision, barely made out that the person wasn’t Pei Huaijin.
“He is Qingjian, my attendant,” came a cool, helpless voice from the open bedroom door behind her. “How many times will you mistake your husband?”
Startled, Shen Youran instinctively stepped back—only to bump into Pei Huaijin, who was just emerging from the side room.
Pei Huaijin steadied her, looking at this confused, headstrong young girl. Well, he would teach her slowly in the days to come…
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