In order to give Grandmother a surprise, Pei Huaian had been spending his free time these days in his room, training two Parrots to speak.
Originally, the two little fellows had learned quite well, but when it finally came time for their performance today, the noisy little things suddenly refused to imitate him.
He had no choice but to feed them their favorite Songzi, coaxing them to open their beaks before he hurried over.
Though he was a little late, fortunately the two little Parrots did not disappoint him in the end.
Their chattering beaks amused Grandmother to laughter, so his efforts were not in vain after all.
He was about to set the two Parrots aside when, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a young lady sitting in the second seat to Grandmother’s left—her bright, lively eyes strikingly familiar, overlapping with those of the girl he’d met at the Temple Fair.
He turned his head joyfully to look at her.
“It’s you!”
The young lady was startled, a look of confusion appearing on her face.
He studied her carefully and found that, although her eyes and brows resembled the girl he’d met at the Temple Fair, the lower half of her face was different—clearly, she was not the same person.
“Oh, it’s not you…”
He remembered that the girl at the Temple Fair had mentioned she had an elder sister who was also there.
It seemed that the young lady before him must be her elder sister.
How coincidental, to meet her at a family banquet—perhaps he truly was fated with that girl.
Pei Huaian’s mind worked quickly.
In an instant, he guessed the young lady’s identity and promptly cupped his hands with a smile, apologizing, “Sister-in-law, just now I was rude.”
Shen Yunshu had not yet married into the family, yet he called her “Sister-in-law.”
She hadn’t felt embarrassed at first, but when the elders at the table all cast teasing glances her way, she could only pretend to be shy, rising to return the salute.
“May I ask, whom did Seventh Young Master mistake me for just now?”
Pei Huaian smiled but didn’t answer immediately.
“It’s not convenient to say now, Sister-in-law. When the banquet is over, may I trouble you for a favor?”
“What kind of favor?”
Pei Huaian looked mysterious.
“It’s not convenient to say now either…”
His evasiveness made the elders laugh all the more.
Although there should be boundaries between future uncle and sister-in-law, he was openly asking for her help in front of the elders, so it wouldn’t arouse suspicion.
Besides, he was always mischievous and was the youngest in the family—the elders all saw him as a child and said nothing more.
Afterward, Pei Huaian excused himself and went over to the table where the younger generation sat.
Over at Old Madam Pei’s table, because of his interruption, everyone began to guess what favor he wanted from his future Sister-in-law.
No matter how they guessed, they couldn’t figure it out.
When they asked Shen Yunshu, she simply shook her head and said she didn’t know—after all, this was her first time meeting her future little brother-in-law.
So everyone gave up guessing and chatted about other things.
Shen Yunshu sat quietly, but she couldn’t help wondering: just now, Pei Huaian mistook her for someone else.
In this world, the only one who resembled her so much was her Younger Sister.
Did he mistake her for her Younger Sister?
But when had he ever met her Younger Sister?
Her Younger Sister had never mentioned him.
For the past two years, her Younger Sister had been kept at home for lessons; whenever she went out, she always begged to go together.
There were no secrets between the sisters.
The only man outside the family her Younger Sister had met recently was that scoundrel at the Temple Fair…
Shen Yunshu’s brows knitted slightly as she took a sip of tea, hiding the subtle change in her expression.
Could it be that the scoundrel her Younger Sister met at the Temple Fair was this famously unruly young master of the Capital?
Shen Yunshu’s suspicion was confirmed after the birthday banquet, when Pei Huaian took out a Mohuole covered with emerald gauze.
It was indeed him.
“Back at the Temple Fair at Daxiangguo Temple, your sister fancied this. I bought it for her, but perhaps because I was wearing a mask and frightened her, she refused to accept it no matter what,” Pei Huaian said, handing the Mohuole to Shen Yunshu, “I truly didn’t mean to scare her that day. Please give this to her as my apology…”
Staring at the Mohuole in his hand, Shen Yunshu’s eyes and brows showed a hint of wariness.
If she hadn’t heard from her Younger Sister that he not only lifted her curtain but also pulled off her veil, she might have been fooled by his sincere, harmless demeanor.
She didn’t want her Younger Sister entangled with someone like him, so she declined, “Thank you for your kindness, Seventh Young Master, but my sister doesn’t like accepting things from strangers. You’d better keep this Mohuole for yourself.”
“You’re my future Sister-in-law. Our families will be related by marriage soon; we’re hardly strangers.”
Pei Huaian caught her meaning and guessed why she was wary of him, so he grinned, “There’s no need to guard against me, Sister-in-law. I just thought your sister was pretty and bought it for her on a whim. I had no improper intentions at all. If you won’t deliver it for me, I’ll have to visit in person to give it to her myself…”
Shen Yunshu was shocked—not only was this man frivolous, but his skin was incredibly thick.
But now that he knew her Younger Sister’s identity, Shen Yunshu was worried he might really come to deliver the gift, so she had no choice but to take the Mohuole from his hand.
“No need to trouble yourself, Seventh Young Master. Tomorrow, I’ll send a Servant with the money to pay you back…”
Did she really not want her Younger Sister to get involved with him?
A glint of understanding flashed in Pei Huaian’s phoenix-shaped eyes.
“I won’t be at the residence tomorrow.”
“BBB……”
“Nor the day after,” Pei Huaian said lazily, with a hint of mischief.
“Tomorrow I’ll accompany my Grandfather and Grandmother to the estate outside the city to escape the summer heat. I don’t know when I’ll return. If Sister-in-law insists on paying me back, you can send the money to the estate…”
It was only a few taels of silver; there was no need to go all the way to the estate outside the city just to pay him back.
She could do it another time.
Shen Yunshu said nothing more, took the Mohuole, and turned to leave.
The evening glow scattered like silk, dusk was falling.
Shen Youran, still reluctant to leave, walked out from the tile market outside the West Liang Gate of the prefecture.
Qinghe followed, carrying the things and food she’d bought, while Danruo helped her tie on her veil, urging, “Miss, let’s hurry back. The birthday banquet at the Pei Residence should be over by now. We must get home before Eldest Miss…”
Taking advantage of her Eldest Sister attending the banquet at the Pei Residence, Shen Youran had sneaked out with Danruo and Qinghe, happily spending most of the day playing at the tile market.
She’d brought plenty of money today and even bought a Mohuole similar in quality to the one she saw at the Temple Fair, though it was more expensive here.
She hugged the Mohuole joyfully as she walked toward where their carriage was parked when she suddenly heard someone call behind her, “Ah Mei…”
Hmm?
Which young lady’s name sounded so much like her Eldest Sister’s?
Or was her Eldest Sister here?
Shen Youran immediately grew nervous, stopped, and looked around.
In the bustling crowd, she met the gaze of a stranger, who then strode toward her.
He wore a dark green brocade robe embroidered with clouds, his face narrow and lips pale, his features sharp.
His eyes were deep and black, fixed on her like a hawk, making her shiver instinctively.
Certain she didn’t know this young man, Shen Youran turned to leave, but he walked quickly and soon caught up to her.
Suddenly, her wrist was seized by a large hand.
“Ah Shu, why are you running?”
His tone was half reproachful, half trembling.
At this moment, Shen Youran was wearing a veil, only her eyes and brows exposed.
She and her Eldest Sister looked very much alike in this way, so this man must have known her Eldest Sister and mistaken her for her.
She turned around and pulled off her veil.
“You’ve got the wrong person…”
The man was stunned, quickly letting go of her wrist.
“Sorry.”
Then, as if thinking of something, he looked up and asked, “Is your father the Ministry of Revenue Assistant Minister? Are you the Shen Family’s Younger Sister?”
Shen Youran was puzzled.
“Who are you?”
He introduced himself.
“I am Lu Yi, son of the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Xunzhou, and also Ah Shu’s elder brother…”
Shen Youran recalled that her sister’s mother had remarried into the Lu Family.
She’d heard her sister mention that the Lu Family originally had an eldest legitimate son and three children born to concubines, and after her mother remarried, she’d had another son.
This must be the Lu Family’s eldest legitimate son, her Eldest Sister’s stepbrother.
But her Eldest Sister had never mentioned this stepbrother to her, and she had no interest in learning about someone who had nothing to do with her.
So she replied indifferently, “Oh, so you’re the Lu Family’s elder brother. What brings you to the Capital?”
“Didn’t Ah Shu tell you? My father has been transferred to the Capital as Provincial Administration Commissioner. Our whole family is moving here. I arrived first to check on the house. My father and mother will be here soon…”
“Mother is coming to the Capital too?”
Shen Youran’s heart trembled, and she unconsciously clenched her hands, trying to hold back the surge of emotion.
She’d secretly missed her mother for twelve years, and now her mother was coming to the Capital.
“Yes,” Lu Yi saw she couldn’t hide her excitement and, seizing the opportunity to get closer, said, “Mother often mentions you. She says you were very cute as a child…”
Shen Youran had left her mother when she was four, just old enough to remember things.
She’d fallen asleep in her mother’s arms one night, but woke to find only her father beside her and the rumble of carriage wheels.
From that day on, she never saw her mother again.
She’d asked her father, why didn’t mother want her anymore?
Didn’t she love her?
Father said, mother loved her very much, she just didn’t love father anymore.
Later, her father remarried, and she had a new mother.
But by then she was eight, and never grew close to her stepmother.
Her father showered her with endless affection, but the emptiness in her heart could never be filled.
“When will mother arrive in the Capital?”
She looked up at Lu Yi, her eyes misty with tears.
“In about two days,” Lu Yi saw her guard was down and suggested, “Since fate has brought us together, why don’t I invite Third Miss to the Tea House nearby for a cup of hot tea? Let’s sit and chat…”
Chat about her mother, and also ask about Ah Shu’s recent life.
Shen Youran longed to see her mother after so many years and almost agreed, but then remembered her Eldest Sister would be home soon.
If her sister found out she’d been shirking her studies and sneaking out to play, she’d surely scold her.
“Not today, I have urgent business.”
Shen Youran gave him a polite bow in thanks.
“Thank you for telling me the good news. I must go.”
Without waiting for him to say more, she hurried off with the Mohuole in her arms.
She rushed back to the residence, but was still a moment late.
Her Eldest Sister was already waiting in her courtyard, holding the Discipline Ruler.
Caught red-handed, Shen Youran dared not argue.
She handed the Mohuole to Danruo, lowered her eyes, and quickly admitted her fault, “Sister, I was wrong. I won’t dare do it again…”
The quicker she admitted her mistake, the more it showed she hadn’t truly repented and would surely do it again in the future.
Shen Yunshu told her to hold out her left hand, gripped her wrist, and struck her palm five times with the Discipline Ruler without mercy.
Shen Youran jumped in pain, tears welling at the corners of her eyes.
“I admitted my mistake, and you still hit me?”
“Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. Since you made a mistake, you must be punished.”
Shen Yunshu had never really struck her sister before, usually just raising the ruler to scare her.
But now that she was about to be married, if she didn’t strictly correct her sister’s ways, she’d have no chance to do so in the future.
Yet, seeing her sister’s palm quickly swell and redden, her heart softened.
She gently took the trembling hand and blew on it.
“If you want to go out and play next time, don’t sneak out. If no one in the residence knows where you are and something happens to you outside, we won’t know where to find you…”
Shen Youran pouted.
She’d wanted to cry from the pain, but with her sister’s gentle comfort, she didn’t feel like crying as much.
In fact, she had something happy to share.
“Sister, I met your stepbrother outside today. He said mother is coming to the Capital too…”
Shen Yunshu’s heart clenched, a chill sweeping through her whole body.
“You met Lu Yi?”