When Shen Yunshu handed those books to Pei Huaian, she had anticipated his restlessness, so she had specially arranged for calming incense to be burned in the room today.
But now it seemed that the calming incense had absolutely no effect on him.
Those clear eyes, as pure as mountain springs, now flickered with a strange light, staring straight at her like a wolf cub fixated on its prey.
Shen Yunshu hugged the quilt and sat up, warily leaning back a little.
“Pei Huaian, you need to learn to control your desires…”
Wherever she moved, he moved with her.
She shifted back an inch; he closed the gap by an inch.
“Jiejie,” he said, one leg already on the bed, kneeling with bent knees, hands pressing in front of her.
His face was full of hesitation and struggle, but more so, confusion driven by an indescribable craving.
“I feel so uncomfortable, I really don’t know what to do. Please help me…”
Shen Yunshu had not expected the books to have such a powerful effect.
Seeing how distressed he seemed, she couldn’t bear it in her heart.
“Then how should I help you?”
“I can’t relieve myself,” Pei Huaian said, having tried it in the Jingshi before.
The first three times went smoothly, but this last time, it didn’t work, and he was about to burst.
“Jiejie, will you help me relieve it?”
Shen Yunshu had only learned about the doctrine of proper relations from the books, knowing such matters required both a man and a woman, and had no knowledge of any other methods.
Hearing him say this, she was startled.
“No, we are not husband and wife. We cannot do that kind of thing.”
Pei Huaian felt wronged.
“But if you hadn’t made me read those books, I wouldn’t be like this…”
“Looks like that method won’t work. I’ll think of something else later.”
“Don’t talk about later, I really can’t bear it now…”
He pressed even closer, while Shen Yunshu retreated until her back hit the wall, with no way to escape.
“…”
“Jiejie,” he grasped her hand, slowly guiding it downward, his tone full of pleading, “Please, Jiejie, pity me…”
“No, Pei Huaian, calm down…”
At that moment, the oil in the lamp outside the bed ran out, and the dim flame quickly extinguished, plunging the two inside the tent into thick darkness.
Shen Yunshu’s hand landed somewhere, his forehead pressed against her shoulder, a hoarse voice whispered near her ear.
“Jiejie, I’ll teach you…”
The dawn was faint, the pale orange morning glow just dispersing.
Before leaving, Pei Huaijin told Qingjian, “Stay in the mansion today. If the Missus wants to go out, you should accompany her.”
She was simple-minded, and everything she thought was clearly written on her face.
Seeing how she looked yesterday, it was likely she intended to sneak out behind his back today.
No one in the courtyard except him could stop her, so he decided to let it be and had Qingjian follow to protect her. That way, he could feel more at ease.
Shen Youran had originally planned to wait until her sister finished her morning affairs before asking her to go together.
She sent Danruo to ask her sister’s wish, but Yunshu said she was busy today and wouldn’t go, telling her to leave early and come back early, and not to dawdle.
However, seeing Qingjian still in the mansion, Shen Youran thought Pei Huaijin had deliberately kept him there to stop her, so she and Danruo, along with Qinghe, devised a plan: Qinghe would wear Shen Youran’s clothes to distract Qingjian, while Shen Youran took Danruo out of the mansion and boarded a carriage headed toward Da Xiangguo Temple.
When they reached the foot of the mountain where the temple was, the carriage couldn’t go further.
Shen Youran hired two simple sedan chairs; she and Danruo each took one, wobbling their way up the mountain.
The morning sun’s energy was rising, perfect for incense offerings and prayers, so the Buddhist hall was crowded with incense-bearers.
Shen Youran hadn’t come to pray today, so she didn’t push into the hall.
In front of the main hall, a temporary stage had been set up.
Performers were putting on a puppet show, and Shen Youran excitedly pulled Danruo over to watch.
Just as she was getting engrossed, Danruo was bumped by someone.
Sensing something was wrong, she hurried to check the pouch tied at her waist.
Sure enough, it was gone!
“Thief! Catch the thief!”
She immediately looked for the person who bumped her and soon spotted a man in gray paper clothes in the crowd.
“Missus, that man stole our pouch…”
What?
If the money was stolen, she wouldn’t even have incense money later.
“Quick, Danruo, let’s chase him!”
Shen Youran grabbed Danruo and chased after the gray figure, weaving through the dense crowd.
But the temple fair was packed with people today, forming a dense sea of sleeves, and with the veil covering Shen Youran’s head, she couldn’t run fast.
The thief was clearly experienced, slippery as a swimming fish, quickly leaving them far behind.
After running for a while, Shen Youran realized her body was weaker from falling ill recently; she was already panting heavily after a short run.
“Forget it, no more chasing…”
She stopped, squinting at the thief’s figure growing more distant, giving up hope.
Just then, the thief seemed to be struck by something, collapsing forward onto the ground.
He got up, looked around, took two steps, then fell again.
Before he could get up this time, a young man in a sea-green narrow-sleeved robe briskly approached, pinned him down, and demanded the pouch.
When Shen Youran and Danruo arrived, they saw the thief still struggling and crying injustice, refusing to hand over the pouch.
The young man searched him thoroughly but found no pouch.
However, he did find tools used for thievery—bamboo tweezers, blades, and such.
“It seems your pouch has already been handed off to his accomplices,” the young man said, looking up at Shen Youran, still holding the thief down.
When the nearby patrolling Sili arrived, they took the thief away.
Before leaving, the Sili asked Shen Youran’s name and residence, promising to notify her at the Fuya if her pouch was recovered.
“My surname is Shen, my husband’s family name is Pei. We live at…”
She gave her address, and after noting it down, the Sili took the thief away.
Though she didn’t get her pouch back, she wanted to thank the young man who had helped her.
Just as she turned to thank him, she heard him hesitantly call out, “Mrs. Shen?”
“Hm?”
Through the thin veil under the curtain, she looked at him.
He was tall and handsome, with slightly dark skin—clearly someone trained in martial arts.
After careful thought, she suddenly realized: “You are…Liang Family Sixth Young Master?”
The Liang Xu from the General Zhenhu’s Manor.
He nodded slightly.
“Yes, what a coincidence.”
Because he had just helped her, out of courtesy Shen Youran greeted him.
“You came to the temple fair too? Alone?”
“…Yes, you could say that.”
Seeing his vague answer and recalling their last meeting at this temple, she spoke quickly: “Could it be you came to look for a wife again today?”
A hint of bashfulness appeared on his face.
“Yes.”
“Really? Then I won’t keep you. Go ahead.”
But he didn’t move.
“It’s already over.”
Oh?
Shen Youran’s curiosity peaked.
“How did it go? Did you find anyone you liked?”
He shook his head.
“Nothing caught your eye? You have high standards.”
“It’s fine, fate is something that can’t be forced.”
Although she comforted him thus, she found it odd: the last time they met was summer, now it was winter, and he was still at it with his high standards.
She recalled that Lady Liang was also present during their match, so perhaps her standards were high as well.
Since he said he came alone today, Shen Youran couldn’t help but ask: “Your mother didn’t accompany you?”
He looked at her sharply.
“Marriage is my own matter. I want to decide for myself.”
“Oh, that’s good.”
Since she only met him once and wasn’t close, after a brief chat she wanted to leave.
“I still need to pray. Liang Gongzi, you…”
He suddenly interrupted, “Your pouch was stolen. Do you have money on you?”
She didn’t.
But since she only said she was going to pray as an excuse, it was fine not to pray today.
If needed, she could ask Pei Huaijin to accompany her tomorrow.
“I have some here. Take it for now.”
He pulled a pouch of money from his chest and handed it to her.
“Thank you. Looks like I can still pray today. I’ll pay you back later.”
“…”
Shen Youran gave him a slight bow to thank him.
“I’ll go pray now.”
He nodded.
Shen Youran walked toward the main hall, then Danruo whispered, “Missus, he’s still following us.”
“Hm?”
Shen Youran turned to glance back, indeed seeing him not too far behind.
Is he going to the main hall to pray too?
But he already lent her money.
Shen Youran stopped and waited for him to approach.
“Are you going inside to pray?”
“No.”
“Then…aren’t you going back to the mansion?”
“I’m worried his accomplices might cause trouble for you and Danruo.”
Oh.
He was quite thoughtful.
Shen Youran noticed a Tanyu in his hand and glanced at it while walking.
“So you used this to hit the thief earlier?”
Liang Xu, seeing her interest, handed it over.
“I’m on guard duty in the archery squad. When not using a bow, I train my eyesight with this.”