He did nothing else. Indeed, he truly didn’t do anything besides wrapping his arms around her completely, pressing their bare bodies tightly together—yet this was far more embarrassing than any other action.
“Don’t hold me so tight, loosen up a little,” she said, the spot where he had just bitten and kissed still aching slightly from the swelling, “I’m uncomfortable like this.”
“Alright then.” He loosened his grip just a bit, his large hand gently stroking her back. “Wife, once I get into the Imperial Academy, will we finally be able to consummate our marriage?”
If it had been before, Shen Yunshu would have agreed without hesitation, but now…
If he entered the palace, naturally he wouldn’t need to take the Imperial Academy’s entrance exam. There would be a better tutor assigned to him.
“Why aren’t you saying anything, wife?” Seeing her silent for so long, Pei Huai’an looked down at her and planted a kiss on her forehead.
Shen Yunshu closed her eyes. “I’m tired. Can we sleep?”
“Alright.” Being able to hold her this closely through the night was already enough for Pei Huai’an. He quickly fell asleep too, or else that spot would start aching again soon.
Winter nights were long. By the time the first faint blue-green light appeared in the east, it was already the early morning hour of Mao.
At this hour, her father should be preparing to attend the morning court session.
Shen Yunshu hurried to see him before he left, asking if he would petition the Emperor today.
Father Shen nodded. “Your younger brother’s portrait was sent to His Majesty some time ago. This misunderstanding can’t be delayed any longer.”
Although now it seemed her father and her father-in-law had worked together to protect the heir, he had, after all, deceived the Emperor first back then. This matter was not something a simple petition could easily resolve.
“Father, I won’t return to the Pei household these few days. My siblings and I will stay at home waiting for you.”
Shen Tingyu also understood that this trip to the palace might take a while before he returned home. “With you here, I can rest easier.”
Pei Huai’an, unaware that she planned to stay at the Shen residence for several days, didn’t want to return to the Pei mansion. She used studying as an excuse to persuade him to go back.
As expected, once her father left, he didn’t return that night.
Late that night, officers from the Dajinsi suddenly arrived at the mansion. Holding the imperial edict, they gathered all the servants in the front courtyard—from the main wife downward—one by one bringing them inside for questioning.
Winter was cold, and the night was even colder. The servants standing in the courtyard were soon chilled to the bone.
Shen Youran came out suddenly, without even wrapping her cloak, shivering. She wanted to hug her older sister for warmth but was stopped by the Dajinsi officers, who forbade her from getting too close to avoid suspicion of collusion.
Shen Youran nearly cried from the cold.
The maidservants Dan Ruoting and Lan had even thinner clothes and were shivering, their lips turning purple one by one.
The interrogation showed no sign of ending soon. Shen Yunshu anxiously looked at her younger sister and pondered how to petition the Dajinsi officers for mercy. Then she saw an officer carrying a sword walk straight to her.
“Xiao Dajinshi, allow two men to fetch some charcoal to make a fire for warmth. You arrange two servants; I will accompany him.”
Shen Yunshu thanked him and quickly assigned two strong young servants.
She then glanced towards the courtroom.
Xiao Ci, the officer inside, noticed her gaze and gave a slight nod before returning his focus to the case.
The interrogation lasted the entire night.
Only after the last servant finished questioning did the Dajinsi officers allow them to leave, though Shen Changyu was detained to be taken to the Dajinsi office.
At the same time, the Minister’s Mansion was temporarily sealed, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving.
Fortunately, Shen Changyu was returned the next day and told them that her father and the Third Young Master of the Pei family were both detained at the Dajinsi, but were not tortured.
The Minister’s Mansion was unsealed on the fifth day, and her father finally returned safely. He told them that the Emperor, in light of his contribution to protecting the heir, no longer pursued the charge of deceiving the Emperor years ago. However, because he had withheld information in the past two years, he was demoted half a rank and docked half a year’s salary. Pei Yuanzhou had to hand over most of his family’s wealth to the Imperial Treasury. Only then did the incident pass without major trouble.
“What about Pei Huai’an?” Shen Yunshu asked.
“Once his identity was confirmed, he was brought into the palace. Now that he’s gone, the real Pei Huai’an can truly return.” Shen Tingyu looked at his eldest daughter. “Shu’er, you must also prepare yourself for entering the palace.”
“Father, does His Majesty have any doubts about my marriage to him?”
The Emperor was suspicious by nature. Naturally, he would doubt that the Shen family had deliberately married their daughter to the Crown Prince. But compared to recovering the Crown Prince, this matter was far less important. “Time will tell, Shu’er. No matter what, you are already married…”
On the tenth day after her father returned, palace officials came bearing an imperial edict, summoning Shen Yunshu into the palace.
Obeying imperial orders was difficult. Even though she was reluctant to leave her younger siblings, Shen Yunshu had no choice but to leave the Shen residence and board the carriage bound for the palace.
Shen Youran watched the yellow-lacquered carriage depart, her mind filled with her sister’s troubled expression. She thought that if the marriage swap hadn’t happened, if she had married Pei Huai’an as planned, then today it would be her entering the palace.
If it had been her going to the palace, how would she fare within the Simple Palace?
Given her sister’s nature and talents, she believed the palace officials would surely take a liking to her.
Shen hopes that His Majesty will not doubt her sister, and that she will be safe and well in the palace.
Counting the days, Pei Huai’an was expected back soon.
When he left, he told her it would be anywhere from half a month to no later than before the New Year.
Today, he should be returning soon.
While waiting for his return, Shen Youran taught her younger brother to read at the mansion.
Father had wanted to hire a tutor for him, but feared the tutor would be too strict and scare off the son he had struggled to reclaim. So he asked Shen Youran to teach him the Thousand Character Classic during her free time.
Back then, Shen Youran was forced by her sister with a ruler in hand to study for two years. Now, the ruler had passed into her own hands, and imitating her sister, she threatened her younger brother with it if he didn’t focus.
Unexpectedly, he wasn’t afraid and even grinned mischievously, stretching out his hand for her to hit.
Looking at the thick calluses on his palm, Shen Youran couldn’t bring herself to strike him. She threw down the ruler and touched the hardened calluses, flipping his hand over to see the dark red chilblains on his knuckles and fingers.
“You said he cares about you, so why did he raise you like this?” she asked.
“Hmph, it’s nothing. One winter when I had a high fever that wouldn’t break and medicine didn’t help, he thought of a trick: he just threw me into a snowdrift to cool me down. After my fever broke, I crawled back by myself,” Shen Changyu said indifferently. “He does care about me, but he really doesn’t know how to raise children.”
Shen Youran looked at her easygoing brother. He wore a newly made long robe in Tianshui blue with narrow sleeves and a matching blue hair ribbon flowing behind him. His skin was much better than before. Stripped of his former rough appearance, he was now a handsome youth with sharp brows and bright eyes—much more attractive.
Feeling affection for her brother, Shen Youran took out the slingshot she had bought at the temple fair. “Brother, no reading today. Here, play with this.”
Shen Changyu was indeed delighted, taking it and fiddling with it. “I used to have a slingshot too. Father made it for me out of beast bone. I played with it for years until the bone frame polished into a jade-like color…”
Then he asked how a young girl like her could have one.
Hearing him mention Father, Shen Youran recalled the incident when the former head of the family had taken her hostage and was shot in the forehead by Liang Xu, dying instantly.
Luckily, her brother didn’t know Liang Xu, and she planned not to introduce them.
“My eyes aren’t very good. A friend taught me to play with this, saying it helps restore eyesight.”
“What’s wrong with your eyes?”
“When I was little, I cried too much and ruined them.”
“You cried so much as a child that you damaged your eyes?”
“After your accident, Mother divorced Father. I couldn’t stay with Mother and was taken back to the capital by Father. I missed her so much, I just kept crying…”
Speaking of Mother, after Father was released from the Dajinsi, the next day, her sister was summoned again to the palace. Mother arrived on the third day, holding the long-lost son, crying bitterly.
Though her brother had returned, Father and Mother were long past being husband and wife. Shen Youran and her brother could only visit Mother at the Lu residence when missing her.
“Didn’t expect you were such a crybaby as a child,” Shen Changyu teased her. “Come on, let’s go play with the slingshot.”
Changyu was skilled with the slingshot, hitting wherever he aimed. As the siblings played happily, the gatekeeper led two guests inside—brother and sister from the Liang family.
“Youran sister!” Liang Qingluo approached cheerfully, linking arms with Shen Youran. “I heard the Minister’s Mansion was sealed by the Dajinsi recently. I was so worried. Today, Sixth Brother and I came to check on you…”
“Little sister Qingluo, Master Liang…” Seeing Liang Xu, Shen Youran’s heart tightened.
She thought she had avoided the worst by not introducing them, given Liang Xu had personally killed her brother’s foster father. Yet here were the Liang siblings, coincidentally meeting her brother.
Since they had met, she had to grit her teeth and introduce them. “Brother, these two are Liang Liulang and Liang Jiuniang of the Town Protector General’s Mansion…”
Then she introduced her brother to the Liang siblings. “You must have heard—our long-lost brother has been found.”
“Master Shen,” Liang Xu recognized him immediately. The slingshot in his hand was the very one he had helped Shen Youran choose at the temple fair. “You’re pretty good with the slingshot.”
“Flattering me,” Shen Changyu shook the slingshot. “Do you know how to play with it?”
“Of course. That slingshot was a gift from me to Lady Shen.”
“So you gave it to her,” Shen Changyu picked up a clay pellet and challenged him, “best two out of three?”
Liang Xu accepted casually. “Bring it on.”
Shen Youran and Liang Qingluo stood to the side, watching the two take turns shooting pellets. They were evenly matched, and mutual admiration flickered in their eyes.
Shen Youran grew uneasy. Seeing their shared interests, she feared they might become good friends.
Sure enough, after the match, Liang Xu praised her brother and then asked, “Master Shen, you’re skilled with the slingshot. Can you shoot a bow as well?”
This touched on Shen Changyu’s specialty. “Of course. I can not only shoot arrows but also shoot while riding a horse.”
Liang Xu seemed to recall something and sent Liang Qingluo to fetch his bow and arrows from the carriage, handing them to Shen Changyu. “Try it out.”
“Nice bow!” Shen Changyu weighed it, plucked the string, gauged its power, then slowly drew the bow. The string twanged sharply as an arrow with white feathers flew straight three zhang away, piercing a bronze coin pinned to the courtyard wall.
Liang Qingluo ran over excitedly. “Wow! That arrow hit right in the center of the coin!”
Shen Changyu calmly put away his bow and arrows.
Shen Youran hadn’t expected her brother’s archery to be so superb. It seemed they were destined to be friends.
Liang Xu handed him a few more arrows. Seeing his skills, he mentioned, “In seven days, a foreign envoy will visit the court. The Emperor will hold a banquet at the Southern Imperial Court. Besides selecting archers to accompany the archery event, the court has been recruiting archery talents from the city. I see your archery is excellent and that the court is looking for talents like you. Would you like to try?”
“Accompanying the archery at the Southern Imperial Court?” Shen Changyu’s eyes lit up with excitement but then dimmed with hesitation. “Forget it, I’m just a rough commoner. I wouldn’t want to embarrass anyone.”
“The court’s selection has never been rigid. As long as you can shoot well, that’s enough.” Liang Xu encouraged him. “If you’re interested, I can recommend you.”
Shen Changyu was indeed tempted.
He had been so self-conscious all this time since coming home. Now, with a skill he could proudly show off, he wanted to give it a try.
“I’ll discuss it with Father later.”
“Good. As soon as possible.” Seeing how fond he was of the bow, Liang Xu generously offered, “If you find this bow suits you, consider it a gift.”
“That’s not right. We’re meeting for the first time. How can I accept your gift?” Shen Changyu tried to return it. “Thank you, Brother Liang.”
“No need to refuse.”
“Well, then I’ll accept it.”
Just moments ago, they were addressing each other as Master Shen and Master Liang. Now they were brothers. Shen Youran’s heart grew even more uneasy, so she found an excuse to pull Liang Xu aside for a private word.
She led him to an ancient cypress tree, ensuring the distance was far enough that her brother wouldn’t hear their conversation, then confided, “Brother Liang, how much have you heard about my brother?”
“Not much from outside rumors. Just that he came from the common folk.”
“Not just that. When he was little, assassins kidnapped him. Those assassins later became bandits. The bandits who kidnapped me last time were in league with my brother…” Liang Xu showed surprise.
“The man you shot in the pine forest last time was my brother’s foster father. I see my brother had a deep bond with him. Please don’t ever mention that matter in front of him.”
Liang Xu was stunned for a moment before nodding. “I understand your concerns.”
Though he appeared cold, he was actually quite approachable and had helped her many times before. Shen Youran finally made a request: “I only told you my brother’s true identity. Will you keep it secret for me?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you.”
She had thanked him several times before and even wanted to formally express gratitude in person, but he always declined. Since then, she hadn’t approached him again.
Their relationship ended there.
He helped her without ever asking for anything in return, but today, he suddenly wanted a little more connection. “Then… how will you thank me?”
Shen Youran was taken aback, cheeks coloring with embarrassment. He had just gifted her brother a fine bow, helped recommend him, and promised to keep his secret. A mere “thank you” was clearly insufficient; she needed to express her gratitude properly.
After thinking it over, she decided to cater to his interests. “Brother Liang just gave my brother a good bow. One day, I’ll find an even better one to give you.”
“I have plenty of bows and arrows. You don’t need to spend the effort.”
Not accepting bows, then. Shen Youran didn’t know what else to give, so she asked, “Besides archery, what else do you like?”
“Nothing but bows and arrows. However,” Liang Xu lowered his gaze to her. Her brows were raised in a half-smile, eyes shimmering like a shallow pool gently rippling under winter sunlight, “there is one thing I like…”
Shen Youran craned her neck to listen carefully. “What is it?”
“You.”
“Huh?” Shen Youran was momentarily confused. “What about me?”
“It’s you.”
“What about me?” Shen Youran blinked, puzzled by what he wanted to say. Suddenly recalling his last words, putting it together meant he liked… her?
Shen Youran’s eyes widened, stunned speechless. “W-What are you talking about?”
At this point, Liang Xu spoke more directly: “Lady Shen, Young Master Pei is not a good husband. Have you ever thought about divorcing him?”
“…” What was he saying? Why would she divorce Pei Huai’an? “Pei Huai’an treats me well. I’ve never thought about divorce.”
“If he treated you well, why did you return to your parental home?”
“I didn’t come back because he treated me badly…”
“But I heard from Qingluo that he wants to take a concubine.”
“That’s not his wish—it’s the old madam forcing him. I returned home because of her.”
Both objections were silenced by her words. Liang Xu didn’t want to mention the last reason but couldn’t bear to see her kept in the dark. After much hesitation, he said it: “Do you know he suffers from an illness and… can’t… can’t… perform…”
“Ah?”
When did Pei Huai’an develop an illness?
Why can’t he perform?
He’s quite capable in that regard!
“Brother Liang, do you have some misunderstanding about my husband?”
“Yes,” came a low, chilling voice from the other side of the ancient cypress tree. “How could Pei not know of his own ailment?”