In order to give Grandmother a surprise, Pei Huai’an had been taking every spare moment these days to train two parrots in his room to speak.
The two little creatures had already learned quite well, but when the time finally came for their performance today, the noisy pair suddenly refused to mimic any words. He had no choice but to feed them their favorite pine nuts, coaxing them to open their beaks, before he could finally rush over.
Though he was a bit late, thankfully, the two little ones didn’t let him down in the end. Their chirping brought a broad smile to Grandmother’s face, living up to all his painstaking efforts.
Just as he was about to set the little rascals aside, he caught sight from the corner of his eye of a young lady with bright, intelligent eyes sitting in the second seat to Grandmother’s left. The familiar look in her eyes overlapped with the gaze of the girl he had met at the temple fair.
He turned his gaze toward her, delighted. “It’s you!”
The young lady froze, her expression showing confusion.
He looked her over carefully. Although the girl before him looked very much like the one he’d met at the temple fair, the lower half of her face was different; obviously, they were not the same person.
“Oh, not you…”
He remembered that the girl at the temple fair had mentioned she had an elder sister who was also at the fair. This must be her elder sister.
How coincidental—he’d met her sister at the family banquet. It seemed he was truly fated with that young lady.
Pei Huai’an was quick-witted and soon guessed the young lady’s identity. In a flash, he smiled and cupped his hands in apology. “Eldest Sister-in-law, Huai’an was rude just now.”
Shen Yunshu was not yet married into the family, but was already being addressed as “Eldest Sister-in-law.” She hadn’t felt embarrassed at first, but the teasing looks from the elders at the table forced her to put on a shy expression. She stood and returned the courtesy. “I wonder who Seventh Young Master Pei mistook me for just now?”
Pei Huai’an smiled, but didn’t answer her question directly. “It’s not convenient to say right now, Sister-in-law. After the banquet, could I trouble you with a small favor?”
“What kind of favor?”
Pei Huai’an put on a mysterious look. “Not convenient to say at the moment either…”
His deliberate mystique drew even more laughter from the elders at the table.
Though a proper distance should be maintained between a future uncle-in-law and his future sister-in-law, Pei Huai’an’s open and aboveboard request for help, right in front of the elders, left no room for misgivings. Besides, he was known for being playful and was the youngest in the family, so the elders still treated him as a child and said nothing more.
Afterwards, Pei Huai’an took his leave and went over to the table for the younger generation.
Meanwhile, at the Old Madam Pei’s table, his interruption prompted some speculation as to what sort of favor he wanted to ask of his future sister-in-law. They guessed and guessed, but couldn’t come up with anything. When they asked Shen Yunshu, she simply shook her head and said she didn’t know—after all, this was her first time meeting this future little brother-in-law.
Everyone could only give up guessing and moved on to other topics.
Shen Yunshu sat serenely, though in her heart she couldn’t help but wonder: Pei Huai’an had mistaken her for someone else just now. Of all the people in the world who resembled her, only her third younger sister came to mind. Did he mistake her for Third Sister?
But when had he ever met Third Sister?
She’d never heard Third Sister mention him.
These past two years, Third Sister had been kept at home for instruction, only occasionally going out, always accompanied by her. There were no secrets between the two sisters, and Shen Yunshu knew every man Third Sister had ever met. The most recent was that scoundrel at the temple fair…
Her delicate brows knitted slightly. Shen Yunshu took a sip of tea, masking her subtle expression. Could it be that the scoundrel Third Sister met at the temple fair was this famous young rake from the capital?
Shen Yunshu’s suspicion was confirmed after the birthday banquet ended, when Pei Huai’an produced a mohe luo shrouded in pale silk.
So it was indeed him.
“At the temple fair at Daxiangguo Temple, your younger sister took a liking to this. I bought it for her as a gift, but perhaps because I was wearing a mask that day, I frightened her, so she refused to accept it no matter what.” Pei Huai’an handed the mohe luo to Shen Yunshu. “I really didn’t mean to scare her that day. Please give this to her as my apology…”
Shen Yunshu stared at the mohe luo in his hand, a hint of wariness in her eyes. If she hadn’t heard from Third Sister herself that he’d not only lifted her curtain but had also torn off her veil, she might have been deceived by this seemingly sincere and harmless act.
Not wanting her Third Sister to become entangled with someone like him, she refused, “Thank you for your kindness, Seventh Young Master Pei, but my sister doesn’t like to accept things from strangers. You’d better keep this mohe luo for yourself.”
“You’re to be my future sister-in-law. Our families will soon be relatives—it doesn’t count as strangers.” Pei Huai’an clearly understood her underlying meaning and could also guess the reason for her guardedness. He smiled mischievously. “No need to be on guard, Sister-in-law. I just thought your sister was pretty and bought this for her on a whim. Absolutely no improper intentions. If you won’t give it to her for me, then I’ll have no choice but to deliver it to her myself…”
Shen Yunshu was surprised that this person was not only frivolous in manner but also incredibly thick-skinned. Now that he knew Third Sister’s identity, she was worried he might actually show up at their door with a gift, so she had no choice but to take the mohe luo from his hand. “You needn’t trouble yourself, Seventh Young Master. I’ll have someone send you the money for it tomorrow…”
Did she really want her Third Sister to have nothing to do with him?
A flash of understanding crossed Pei Huai’an’s slightly upturned phoenix eyes. “I won’t be at the residence tomorrow.”
“What about the day after…”
“I won’t be there then either,” Pei Huai’an said lazily, with a teasing glint in his eyes. “Tomorrow I’m accompanying Grandfather and Grandmother to the estate outside the city for the summer. Don’t know when we’ll return. If you insist on returning the money, you can send it directly to the estate…”
It was only a few taels of silver—not worth the trouble of chasing after him to the countryside. She could return it another time.
Shen Yunshu didn’t say anything more, took the mohe luo, and turned to leave.
The evening glow spread like embroidered clouds, dusk was falling. Shen Youran left the entertainment quarter outside the western Liang Gate with reluctance. Qinghe followed beside her, carrying her purchases and food, while Danruo fastened a veil over her face and urged, “Miss, we’d better hurry back. By this time, the birthday banquet at the Pei residence should be over. We must get home before Eldest Miss…”
Taking advantage of Eldest Sister’s visit to the Pei residence for the birthday banquet, Shen Youran had snuck out with Danruo and Qinghe to enjoy the entertainment quarter for most of the day. She had plenty of money today, and even bought a mohe luo similar in workmanship to the one she’d seen at the temple fair, though more expensive.
Cradling the mohe luo happily, she walked toward where her carriage was waiting, when suddenly she heard someone behind her call out, “A’Shu…”
Hmm? Which girl’s name sounds so much like Eldest Sister’s?
Could it be that Eldest Sister was here?
Shen Youran immediately grew nervous. She stopped and looked around, and in the bustling crowd, locked eyes with a young man she didn’t know. That man immediately strode toward her.
He wore a dark green, cloud-embroidered robe. His face was narrow, lips pale, features sharp, his eyes dark and piercing as a hawk’s. The way he stared at her made her shiver instinctively.
Certain she didn’t know this young man, Shen Youran turned to leave, but his stride was large and fast; he quickly caught up to her.
Suddenly, her wrist was gripped tightly by a large hand. “A’Shu, why are you running?”
His tone was somewhat reproachful, but also seemed to quiver slightly.
Shen Youran was wearing a veil that showed only her eyes and brows, which were very much like her eldest sister’s. He must have known Eldest Sister and mistaken her for her.
She turned back and pulled down her veil. “You’ve got the wrong person…”
The man was startled, hurriedly let go, and quickly asked, “Forgive me.” Then, as if thinking of something, he looked up and asked, “Is your father the Vice Minister of Revenue? Are you the third young miss of the Shen family?”
Shen Youran couldn’t help but ask, “Who are you?”
He introduced himself, “I am Lu Yi, son of the prefect of Xunzhou, and also A’Shu’s elder brother…”
Shen Youran recalled that her sister had taken her mother’s surname after remarrying, which was Lu. She’d heard her sister say that the Lu family originally had a legitimate eldest son and three children by concubines, and that her mother had given birth to another son after remarrying.
This must be the legitimate eldest son of the Lu family—Eldest Sister’s stepbrother.
She had never heard Eldest Sister mention this stepbrother, nor was she interested in getting to know a “stepbrother” who had nothing to do with her.
She let out a noncommittal “Oh,” and politely asked, “So it’s Young Master Lu. What brings you to the capital?”
“A’Shu didn’t mention it? My father was transferred to serve as the Right Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Area. Our whole family is moving to the capital. I arrived in advance to check the house. My father and mother will be here soon…”
“Mother is coming to the capital too?” Shen Youran’s heart trembled, and she involuntarily tightened her grip, trying to suppress the emotions threatening to surge forth.
For twelve years, she’d secretly missed her mother, and now, her mother was coming to the capital.
“Yes.” Seeing her unable to conceal her excitement, Lu Yi took the opportunity to get closer. “Mother often talks about you. She says you were very cute as a child…”
Shen Youran had been four years old when she left her mother, just beginning to form memories. She remembered sleeping in her mother’s arms the night before, but when she awoke, only her father was there. The wheels of the carriage rumbled, and from that day on, she never saw her mother again.
She’d asked her father, why didn’t mother want her anymore? Did she not love her?
Her father had said, Mother loved her very much, she just didn’t love Father anymore.
Later, her father remarried, and she gained a stepmother. But by then she was eight, and could never quite get close to her stepmother. Although her father gave her endless affection, there was always a place in her heart that could never be filled.
“When will Mother arrive in the capital?” She looked up at Lu Yi, her eyes brimming with tears.
“In about two days,” Lu Yi, sensing her guard was down, tried to suggest, “Since fate has brought us together, why don’t I invite Third Young Miss to the tea house nearby for a cup of hot tea? We can sit and chat for a bit…” Chat about her mother, and maybe ask after A’Shu as well.
Shen Youran’s heart was full of longing for her mother, whom she hadn’t seen in so many years, and she almost agreed. But then she remembered Eldest Sister would soon return home. If Eldest Sister found out she’d shirked her calligraphy and studies to sneak out and play, she would surely scold her.
“Not today, I have something urgent to do.” Shen Youran gave him a slight bow in thanks. “Thank you for bringing me this good news. I must go.”
Before he could say more, she clutched the mohe luo and hurried away.
She rushed back to the mansion by carriage as fast as she could, but was still a quarter hour late. Eldest Sister was already waiting in her courtyard, holding the discipline ruler.
Caught red-handed, Shen Youran dared not argue. She handed the mohe luo to Danruo, lowered her eyes, and went over to admit her mistake quickly and cleanly. “Elder Sister, I was wrong. I won’t dare do it again…”
The more promptly she admitted fault, 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, grabbed her wrist, and struck her palm five times with the discipline ruler.
Shen Youran hopped from the pain, tears springing from the corners of her eyes. She complained, “I already admitted my mistake, why are you still hitting me?”
“Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. If you make a mistake, you must be punished.” Shen Yunshu used to be reluctant to actually punish her sister, usually just raising the ruler to frighten her. But now she was about to be married. If she didn’t discipline her sister properly now, she wouldn’t have the chance to in the future.
But seeing her sister’s palm quickly swell and redden, her heart softened. She gently pulled the trembling hand to her lips and blew on it. “If you want to go out and play in the future, don’t sneak out. If no one in the house knows where you are and something happens to you outside, we wouldn’t even know where to look for you…”
Shen Youran pouted. She had wanted to cry from the pain, but with her sister’s gentle words of comfort, she didn’t feel like crying anymore.
In fact, she had something happy to share. “Elder Sister, I ran into your stepbrother outside today. He said Mother is coming to the capital too…”
Shen Yunshu’s heart froze, a chill sweeping through her limbs. “You met Lu Yi?”