Shen Yunshu learned in the afternoon that her younger sister was ill.
At that time, she was still in the study room, accompanying Pei Huaian with his lessons.
Tinglan had gone to Yunzhi Courtyard to deliver clothes and earrings for Shen Youran, and upon returning, she waited by the study’s door until Fuzi took a break, then came in to tell Yunshu the news.
Yunshu guessed that it was because Pei Huaian had frightened her sister in the morning, causing her to wet her clothes, which led to her catching a cold and running a fever.
But not wanting to disturb him during his lessons with Fuzi, she could only suppress her worry for the moment, find a casual excuse, and hurriedly leave the study to visit Shen Youran in Yunzhi Courtyard.
Her sister’s menstrual period had not yet ended these past few days, so her body was especially weak at this time.
The warming medicine prescribed earlier by the Old Physician was not yet finished, and now with this added illness, it was truly worrisome.
When she arrived at Yunzhi Courtyard, the Old Physician had just arrived as well.
She heard him say in person that the cause of her sister’s illness was a sudden high fever triggered by both cold exposure and fright.
Yunshu’s concern over Pei Huaian’s mischief grew even deeper.
The Old Physician dispensed medicine, and Yunshu stayed to take care of her sister until Pei Huaijin returned from the government office, only then did she leave.
Meanwhile, Pei Huaian had finished his lessons for the day.
After seeing Fuzi off, he stretched lazily, planning to go out and relax for a bit.
“Sister Yunshu, I won’t be eating at home tonight. I want to go find my friends…”
“No!”
Shen Yunshu pulled him back into the study.
“Fuzi taught you the Doctrine of the Mean today. You must memorize it tonight.”
Pei Huaian had been studying for several consecutive days, feeling like a bird trapped in a cage, longing desperately to go out and play.
“I’ll memorize it when I come back tonight…”
“No, you have to do it now.”
“Why? I haven’t gone out to play for days,” Pei Huaian noticed something off about her expression.
“Sister Yunshu, are you angry? Who made you angry?”
“I just came back from Yunzhi Courtyard,” Yunshu said as she pressed him onto the chair, opening the book and setting it before him.
“Your sister is sick, probably because you scared her this morning…”
“She’s sick? Is it serious? I want to go see her…”
Pei Huaian rose immediately.
Yunshu pushed him back down: “Going won’t help. You’d better sit here and quietly memorize your lesson.”
Pei Huaian felt like crying: “But I’ve been studying all day…”
“If you don’t memorize it, no dinner for you tonight!”
After a short fuss and seeing she wouldn’t budge, he picked up the book and began reciting loudly.
Dinner was also taken in the study.
His mind wasn’t focused, and his attitude was half-hearted.
The lesson was only five or six hundred characters long, yet after flipping through it dozens of times, he still couldn’t recite it by heart.
Determined to curb his stubbornness tonight, Yunshu had Tinglan light two lamps for him and warned, “If you don’t memorize it…”
Pei Huaian clutched the book and wailed, “Sister Yunshu, you’re so cruel…”
Though he complained, once he realized the seriousness of the matter, Pei Huaian finally straightened up and began memorizing word by word.
The night grew deep and silent.
Only the clear sound of recitation drifted from the study’s windows in Ci You Courtyard.
“The superior man follows the mean; the inferior man opposes the mean. The superior man’s mean…”
His voice gradually became fluent but sounded more and more distant to Shen Yunshu.
She had only slept two hours the previous night.
During the day, she managed the inner household in the morning, accompanied him in study in the afternoon, and even rushed to Yunzhi Courtyard once.
Keeping busy helped her forget, but now, sitting quietly, drowsiness flooded over her.
Supporting her head with one hand, she intended to close her eyes for a short nap but unexpectedly fell asleep.
Pei Huaian finally memorized the tricky passages and was about to turn and speak to her, only to find her resting her head on her arms, eyes closed peacefully in slumber.
Even asleep, her brows and eyes remained gentle and elegant.
Though usually dignified and gentle, she always gave him a faint sense of distance; now, defenseless in sleep, he couldn’t help but want to draw closer.
Her breathing was slightly heavier than usual, surely from exhaustion.
It made sense—she had stayed up late the night before, managed so many chores today, and accompanied him in study.
Though two years older, she was no iron statue.
Pei Huaian regretted his earlier childishness.
Knowing she was already tired during the day, he had stubbornly refused to recite properly, causing her worry.
“Sister Yunshu, Sister Yunshu…” he called softly, wanting to wake her yet hoping she wouldn’t open her eyes just yet.
As he wished, those refined eyes remained closed.
He thought, since he’d troubled her, he ought to do something to repay her.
He went around the desk and bent down to gently lift her up.
Before leaving the study, she woke, moving slightly and asking, “Have you memorized the text?”
“I have,” he replied, catching her as she struggled to get down.
“Don’t move. I’ll recite it to you…”
When he recited seriously, his voice lost its usual lightness and laziness.
It became bright and clear, like polished jade striking jade—pure and transparent.
“The mandate of Heaven is called nature; following nature is called the Dao; cultivating the Dao is called teaching…”
Yunshu couldn’t move for a moment.
Listening to his smooth, pleasant voice, she unconsciously relaxed her body.
He walked slowly, his embrace steady.
She leaned on his shoulder and let drowsiness wash over her again.
Pei Huaian reached her bedroom and finished reciting the passage at her bedside, then gently laid her down.
Thinking she had fallen asleep, he was about to pull the covers over her when her hand gripped his chest tightly.
Her delicate face, brushed with sleepiness like a begonia blooming in the sun, made his breath hitch.
“Pei Huaian…”
“Hm?”
“Don’t bother Youran anymore, okay?”
“She’s your eldest sister-in-law and also your younger wife’s sister.
You can’t keep liking her.”
“I know.”
She smiled faintly, like before, and touched his head.
Then she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Pei Huaian’s heart stirred uneasily.
Within that small space of his chest, familiar restlessness burned hotly.
It was over.
He thought.
Tonight, the dream would come again.
At dawn the next day, Pei Huaian sneaked out of the bedroom and found Qing Wu, pressing a pair of underwear into his hand.
Qing Wu said nothing but only smiled.
When Shen Youran woke, her fever had completely subsided, and she felt much lighter.
She hadn’t eaten much since noon the previous day and was so hungry her legs trembled as she shakily stepped out of her room.
“Danruo, I…”
“Young Madam, you’re awake!”
Danruo first helped her wash up, then escorted her to the side hall, where she was served a bowl of ginger soup.
Youran eagerly took a sip, but a sharp pain stung her lips.
“…”
“Did you burn yourself?”
Danruo touched the bowl of soup, puzzled. “It’s not hot anymore.”
The soup had been sitting for a while and was only lukewarm—how could it have scalded her?
Looking down at Youran’s lips, Danruo discovered the reason: “Ah, your lips are chapped?”
“Chapped?”
Youran touched them and murmured, “No wonder they hurt last night.”
She had broken out in a sweat while her fever subsided and felt thirsty.
Pei Huaijin brought her warm water to drink.
While drinking, he kissed her and tried to feed her the water.
She refused, not wanting to swallow what he passed with his mouth.
Some water dripped from their lips until her mouth was dry.
Thinking it was over, she was caught off guard when he flipped her over and pinned her down, tangling tongues deeper.