Pei Huaian wrapped himself like a silkworm cocoon and rolled to the far side of the bed, leaving only his head exposed as he spoke to Shen Yunshu, “Sister Yunshu, is this okay?”
“All right, just sleep however you would on the Luohan couch,” Shen Yunshu patted his quilt.
“Come out quickly. It’s uncomfortable to sleep like that.”
Only then did Pei Huaian loosen the quilt and stretch his arms and legs.
As usual, Shen Yunshu kept a small lamp lit.
With someone beside her, she found it hard to fall asleep.
Pei Huaian lay on his side, staring at her with wide-open eyes.
Even though she was lying flat on her back with closed eyes, she could still feel his gaze.
Shen Yunshu turned to face him and opened her eyes.
He immediately shut them, but his eyelids twitched slightly from the strain.
“Give me your hand,” she said.
Caught by her noticing he hadn’t slept, Pei Huaian shyly opened his eyes and obediently handed her one of his hands.
Shen Yunshu took it and found an acupuncture point on his wrist.
She began pressing it gently.
“Someone taught me before, this spot is called the Shenmen point. Pressing it can nurture the heart, calm the spirit, and help with sleep…”
Her wrist applied a tender but firm pressure.
Pei Huaian stared at her without blinking.
“Sister Yunshu, are you sleepy? Should I press your hand too?”
“No need, I rarely dream at night.”
After pressing for a while, she asked him to switch hands and repeated the same motion.
“How do you feel? Are you sleepy now?”
Usually at this hour, Pei Huaian would be half-asleep the moment he touched the bed.
But tonight, lying close to her, he wasn’t sleepy in the slightest.
If he said he wasn’t tired, she would have rubbed his wrists for nothing.
So he feigned a yawn.
“I am a bit sleepy now, Sister Yunshu. You don’t need to press anymore. Let’s go to sleep.”
“All right.”
The light was dim now, and Shen Yunshu didn’t notice he was pretending.
She thought the acupressure really worked.
Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, he grasped it in return.
“Sister Yunshu, can I hold your hand as I sleep?”
“Why?”
“If I hold your hand, I feel more at ease. Maybe I won’t have nightmares at night.”
“All right.”
After all, it was just holding hands, nothing like before when he had held her hand for other reasons.
Remembering that incident, Shen Yunshu felt her face flush, and her hand twitched awkwardly.
He held tighter, clasping both of her hands and lifting them to his cheek.
Content, he closed his eyes.
Shen Yunshu smiled softly.
How could there be such a person?
Innocent, shameless, and…a little adorable.
The next morning, Shen Youran came to the Ciyou Courtyard as usual and told her sister about how their stepmother had sent someone to ask for things on behalf of their Meng Family cousin the day before.
Although Shen Yunshu sympathized with the Meng Family cousin’s plight, cousins were still cousins and not members of the household.
They couldn’t be allowed to take things from the estate.
The First Madam must have known this and deliberately had someone collect the items while she wasn’t around, asking Third Miss instead.
Ten jin of charcoal was easy to settle, but the account for fabric was more complicated unless Third Miss supplied it from her own share.
Fortunately, Third Miss hadn’t given anything yesterday.
When people from Haitang Courtyard came again today to collect things in her presence, they did not mention the fabric again.
Shen Yunshu pretended not to notice and handed out the Ya Pai as usual based on daily provisions.
After the morning’s affairs, Shen Yunshu pulled her sister into the side hall to chat.
“Wasn’t Seventh Brother saying before that the First Madam originally wanted to marry that Meng Family cousin to Older Brother? But now she’s taken her back to her own courtyard. You should pay close attention. If First Madam asks Older Brother to visit her courtyard, try to go along…”
Shen Youran naturally understood her sister’s concerns.
“Sister, you mean you’re worried that First Madam might want the Meng cousin to become Pei Huaijin’s concubine?”
“It’s too early to say now, but First Madam already dislikes you, and that cousin has won her favor. I fear she might have such thoughts…”
“That won’t do. If she really intends that, she’ll need my approval as the rightful wife. If I refuse, no one can enter the Yunzhi Courtyard.”
Back when the marriage was first switched, Shen Youran would have left without hesitation if First Madam had such intentions.
But now it was different.
She had accepted Pei Huaijin as her husband and couldn’t tolerate him getting close to another woman.
Seeing that her sister was simplifying the matter—thinking that if she didn’t consent, no one could do anything—
Shen Yunshu explained that if First Madam really wanted to place someone in their courtyard, she wouldn’t approach her directly but would pressure through others.
However, since First Madam had not made any move yet, Shen Yunshu couldn’t say much, only advising her sister to watch Pei Huaijin closely.
After her sister’s reminder, Shen Youran indeed paid extra attention to Pei Huaijin for several days.
But seeing him leave for the office daily and return punctually at dusk, and with their stepmother’s side silent, she gradually pushed the matter out of her mind.
With Pei Huaijin’s arrangement, Seventh Brother rented out the house in Wūyī Lane to Xiao Gugu.
The place was well furnished, and after some tidying, classes began.
Since Shen Youran was to learn household management with her sister in the morning, classes were scheduled in the afternoon.
After lunch break, it took less than half an hour to reach the place, with one hour of lessons before dusk.
Along with her, four other young ladies attended—noble maidens waiting to be married.
Only she was already married.
After some inquiries, they learned she was the Grand Preceptor’s legitimate eldest grandson’s wife and started looking at her differently.
After all, the switched marriage was a known but unspoken secret among the capital’s noble circles.
Shen Youran had no close friends before.
Now, these four subtly distanced themselves, but she didn’t mind, always coming and going with a bright smile.
One afternoon, as she stepped down from the carriage preparing to enter class, she heard a clear call: “Sister Youran!”
Few called her “Sister,” and recently Liang Qingluo was one of them.
Shen Youran looked toward the voice and saw two people riding horses.
After stopping, Liang Qingluo gracefully leapt off her tall horse, tossing the reins to her brother and happily ran toward her.
“Sister Youran…”
“Little Qingluo,” Shen Youran said admiringly, “You can ride horses?”
“I learned when I was ten. Sixth Brother taught me.”
At this moment, Liang Xu had stabled the horses and joined them.
He stood imposing and dignified in the lane like a small mountain, drawing glances from passing noble ladies.
Yet he looked only at Shen Youran.
“Third Miss Shen, are you taking lessons here too?”
Remembering his past assistance, Shen Youran had a favorable impression.
“Yes, I’ve been here five or six days.”
“Ninth Miss is new here. Please look after her in the future…”
“That’s easy.”
Shen Youran took Liang Qingluo’s hand and waved to him.
“Let’s go in.”
Liang Xu nodded and watched them enter.
Over the next few days, Shen Youran often saw Liang Xu—sometimes accompanying his sister to class, sometimes coming to pick her up at dusk.
He seemed very fond of his sister, always bringing snacks the little ladies liked.
Shen Youran got along well with Liang Qingluo.
Whenever Liang Xu brought snacks, there were always two portions—one for Qingluo and one for her.
Recently, Yu Fifth Lady from the Honglu Temple Vice Minister’s family tried to befriend them—more precisely, she aimed to get close to Liang Qingluo.
One day before Xiao Gugu arrived, Yu Fifth Lady pulled Liang Qingluo aside to whisper, “Qingluo, does your Sixth Brother have someone he fancies?”
Her own Sixth Brother was tall and handsome, often escorting Liang Qingluo.
Yu Fifth Lady knew two noble ladies among their circle had feelings for him, and she was the bolder one.
“Probably not. If he liked someone, he’d be chasing after her, not always fussing over me.”
Yu Fifth Lady brightened and asked, “Then do you know what kind of girl he likes?”
Qingluo blinked and thought for a moment.
“I don’t know what type he likes exactly, but he’s looked at five or six girls and hasn’t settled with any. My mother is worried about it…”
“Then help me ask him, what kind of girl does he like?”
Straightforward Qingluo laughed, “That’s too much trouble. I’ll just ask him if he likes someone like you.”
Yu Fifth Lady blushed and shyly tried to deny.
“I’m not…I’m just asking for a friend…”
“Fine, I’ll ask him.”
On the way home, riding slowly, Qingluo couldn’t wait and asked Sixth Brother.
But she didn’t reveal Yu Fifth Lady’s name, just cautiously asked, “Sixth Brother, you must have seen the ladies attending class with me. Do you like any of them?”
She knew from experience that Sixth Brother was usually taciturn but straightforward—if he liked someone, he’d say so; if not, no.
If he said “no,” there was no need to single out Yu Fifth Lady.
Expecting an answer, she was surprised when he hesitated and instead asked, “Why do you suddenly ask?”
Qingluo’s expression changed at once.
Sixth Brother had a situation!
“Well…”
Qingluo mimicked Yu Fifth Lady, “I have a friend who wants to know what kind of girl you like.”
Liang Xu knew she only had one friend at Xiao Gugu’s—
Shen Youran.
So, was it Shen Youran who wanted to know?
“Why did she ask you this all of a sudden?”
“Ah?”
Qingluo was stunned.
“You guessed it without me saying?”
Liang Xu nodded.
Besides Shen Youran, who else?
Since he’d guessed, he must have noticed her before.
Qingluo stopped hiding and said directly, “She likes you and wants me to ask if you like her.”
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