Chapter 23: with translation of chapter title

Xiao Jingyuan's tea‑drinking motion paused; he did not lift his head, but his pupils grew a bit deeper.

Shen Shuangning's thought at this moment was simple: for now they had tentatively reached cooperation, and future contact was inevitable, so she felt it better to clarify things in advance.

Although the Young Marquis Xiao might not think much of it, she was unwilling to waste energy dealing with people like Xiao He.

I only feel respect for the Young Marquis; the Young Marquis is not the type of man I like. In the future, when the Duke's manor arranges a marriage for me, I will certainly not choose the Prince of Yan's manor. Young Marquis, you can rest assured. Please also ask him to explain this clearly to the princess consort and Second Young Master Xiao; I am quite troubled.

"Good." Xiao Jingyuan seemed to smile slightly, but the chill about him became more pronounced.

Shen Shuangning said: "There is also one more matter: the Young Marquis's engagement to Elder Sister Song is about to be settled. I don't want people to misunderstand, nor do I want her to feel uneasy, so from now on, unless there is something important, let's try to see each other as little as possible."

Seeing his stern expression, Shen Shuangning thought for a moment and then explained: "I'm saying this for no other reason; it's simply better for both of us this way."

Only then did Xiao Jingyuan turn his gaze to her, his tone cold and firm: "Fourth Miss, you are overthinking. If you had no value, to me you would be no different from the flowers and grasses outside. I will not give people a chance to misunderstand us."

That is what it means to look down on her.

If it were another young lady hearing these words from the Young Marquis Xiao, she would not know how much her self‑esteem would be hurt, but Shen Shuangning let out a sigh of relief.

"Then that's good."

Having said that, Shen Shuangning did not linger; she left without looking back.

The air still retained the fresh, sweet scent unique to a woman's body, exactly the same as what she had smelled in her dream—the fragrance of magnolia blossoms.

Xiao Jingyuan rubbed his temples.

Not long after, Shen Shuangning returned to the Treasure Pavilion.

Ah Heng had waited a long time, almost thinking the young lady had disappeared again; upon finally seeing Shen Shuangning emerge, he hurried forward to greet her.

"Miss, you've finally come out."

"First, go out."

The two of them boarded the Duke's manor carriage.

"Miss, did you get the things?"

Shen Shuangning nodded: "I got them. When you go back, find a spot in the courtyard to plant them and just water them."

"Yes." Ah Heng also worried: "Miss, you've been gone this long; when you return and the mistress asks, what should we say?"

This morning when we left, we didn't expect to be delayed this long; if we claimed we had been at the Treasure Pavilion the whole time, we certainly couldn't get away with it.

As Shen Shuangning was pondering a plan, her gaze inadvertently swept over and she spotted her good friend Su Ran.

She felt a surge of joy—she had an idea!

The Rong Duke's Manor.

Madam Shen was about to send someone to look for Shen Shuangning when she heard that the young lady had returned.

Shen Shuangning returned to the manor together with Su Ran.

Su Ran covered for her, and Madam Shen did not suspect anything, merely nagging a couple of times for her not to stay out so long in the future.

After Madam Shen left, Shen Shuangning took Su Ran back to her own Ning'an Residence.

As soon as they entered the room, Su Ran shut the door and pressed: "Quick, tell me—are you secretly meeting some young lord behind my back? Let me guess—is it the young marquis of the Xie manor?"

The friend she had played with since childhood was a big‑mouth who leaked secrets; Shen Shuangning naturally could not tell her the truth.

Fortunately, Su Ran was also easy to fool; a few sentences were enough to divert her attention.

That night, Su Ran stayed over in Shen Shuangning's orchid garden, sharing the same bed.

The two exchanged some intimate talk.

Shen Shuangning said: "At the last Lantern Festival, you also entered the palace—afterward, why haven't I seen you?"

"Don't mention it." Su Ran rolled over, her voice listless: "My mother is arranging a marriage for me."

So she found an excuse to slip out, and during this period she has been avoiding going out.

Shen Shuangning glanced at her, unsure what to say.

Su Ran has been carefree since childhood, but regarding Shen Xiuci she has carefully concealed her feelings for many years.

Both she and Su Ran know that speaking of this would lead to nothing.

In aristocratic families, marital alliances are always beyond one's control.

Even if Shen Xiuci also feels affection for her, Su Ran's desire to enter the Duke's manor is certainly not easy.

Shen Xiuci is the eldest legitimate son of the Duke's manor, bearing heavy responsibilities; he will surely inherit the title in the future, and his wife will likewise become the next matriarch of the manor, so she must be chosen with utmost care.

That is why Shen Xiuci has not yet taken a wife.

As for the grandmother and mother, they treat Su Ran very well, but they would certainly not agree to let her marry such an outstanding eldest legitimate son as a wife, nor would they allow her to become a concubine; Su Ran herself is unwilling, and Shen Shuangning also would not agree.

"Ah Ning, what do you think I should do? Do I really have to marry someone I don't love?" Su Ran turned her back to Shen Shuangning, curled up, and spoke bewilderedly: "Or should I be bold and ask him? Maybe then I would lose my feelings......"

"Ah Ning, if it were you, what would you do?"

The former Shen Shuangning might have encouraged Su Ran to boldly pursue her beloved, but having endured a lifetime of hardship, she knows that forced melons are not sweet, and ultimately the one who suffers would still be herself.

Shen Xiuci treats her, his only younger sister, very well—practically unconditional tolerance—but toward outsiders, in some respects he is very much like Xiao Jingyuan.

Moreover, in her previous life Su Ran married into the Sun family and lived fairly happily; she naturally would not lead her into a ditch.

Thus Shen Shuangning pondered and said: "Ah Ran, rather than marry someone who does not love you, it is better to marry one who loves you, cherishes you—even if it is better than being neglected."

After saying that, seeing no reaction from Su Ran, she thought Su Ran was unable to accept it; instead, Su Ran picked up the gourd.

Shen Shuangning: "......" All right, dumping her worries on her while she herself snores loudly asleep?

Shen Shuangning, helpless, tucked the blanket in for her and then turned onto her side as well.

Originally she had been thinking about the forced transaction with Xiao Jingyuan, but gradually she also fell into a deep sleep.

She spent the night dreamless.

The next morning, a fairly high‑ranking grandma from the palace came, saying the Grand Princess had summoned Shen Shuangning to enter the palace, but did not specify the purpose; she merely waited in the hall.

The Grand Princess is such a dangerous figure that anyone who gets too close to her is sure to meet a bad end.

Because of this, the entire Shen household was startled and alarmed, genuinely frightened, and even Shen Shuangning felt uneasy in her head.

She wasn't afraid of what the Grand Princess might do to her; she feared that suspicious, fickle Young Master Xiao.

He still doubted his decision to side with the Grand Princess over the Duke's Mansion; the next day the Grand Princess ordered her to enter the palace, and when the news reached Xiao Jingyuan's ears, who knows what he thought.

But now there's nothing she can do; the Grand Princess supported her in the ladies' etiquette contest, so she couldn't refuse to give her face.

She could afford to offend neither the Prince Yan's Mansion nor the Grand Princess, so she could only take things step by step.

The Grand Princess specially dispatched a carriage to fetch her; that splendid procession of carriages and guards was parked outside the Duke's Mansion, drawing passersby to stop.

Upon seeing this, the Shen family felt not joy but worry.

In the past, the ladies who won first place in the etiquette contest hadn't seen the Grand Princess show much favor; why does she suddenly value Miss Ning so much?

When things go awry, there must be something amiss. Or perhaps the Grand Princess wants to win over the Honor Duke's Mansion?

With Emperor Xuānwén watching, the Duke's mansion would never dare!

Everyone watched as Shen Shuangning boarded that luxurious carriage; the Shen family put on a show of being startled by the favor, but inside they were feeling suffocated, except for Su Ran, who knew nothing of the court situation, smiling broadly as she waved goodbye to Shen Shuangning.

On the way to the Imperial Palace, Shen Shuangning felt as if a huge stone weighed on her heart; given her past life's experience, entering the palace surely boded no good.

Sure enough, as soon as she entered the palace, she ran into an ill-omened fellow.

Zhai Ji, unaware of how much Shen Shuangning despised him, walked toward her with a smile, graceful and poised, still holding a snow-white cat in his arms.

Having long heard that the Grand Princess intended to summon Shen Shuangning to the palace, he had purposely waited here on this unavoidable route, hoping to stage a pleasant chance encounter.

"I was wondering why my cat ran over here—it must have been drawn by the fairy's aura. Miss Fourth, nice to see you again."

So greasy.

Shen Shuangning cursed inwardly, but she had to put on a polite appearance, bowing slightly: "Greetings, Third Prince."

Zhai Ji extended a hand to support her and said amicably, "First meeting, second familiarity; here, Miss Fourth, you're my friend, and between friends there's no need for much ceremony."

Only a dog would be friends with you.

After exchanging a few polite words with him, Shen Shuangning excused herself, saying she couldn't keep the Grand Princess waiting, and finally got away from him.

Watching her leave without looking back, Zhai Ji felt a hint of puzzlement; last time they met she had seemed rather interested in him, so why was she now so cold and distant?

I see, she's playing hard to get.

Zhai Ji curled his lips, looking rather pleased. He didn't actually like Shen Shuangning all that much; he was merely after the Honor Duke's Mansion behind her.

Although the Shen family couldn't match the influence of the Song Mansion or the Prince Yan's Mansion, in the capital they were still considered a prominent clan; Honor Duke Shen Lang was also the Commander of the Capital Garrison, wielding certain authority—though this post seemed ordinary in peacetime, in critical times it could even sway the court's situation.

Zhai Ji still very much wanted to grasp it in his hand.

A flicker of ambition flashed in his eyes.

As he turned, he caught sight of Young Master Xiao out of the corner of his eye; Zhai Ji startled, his smile widening, seeming somewhat provocative.

However, Xiao Jingyuan paid him no heed, simply withdrawing his gaze and walking away with his hands behind his back.

Zhai Ji's face gradually darkened; the cat in his arms began to hurt from his grip, and in its struggle it scratched him. Startled, he immediately let go, and the cat darted into the garden and vanished as soon as it hit the ground.

He flew into a rage, shouting, "Someone, seize that beast and skin it!"

The eunuch behind him hurriedly went to catch the cat.

Zhai Ji stood where he was, raising his hand to stare at the spot scratched by the cat; even the tiger's mouth of his hand still faintly showed the wound, and a deep hostility welled up in his eyes.

The beast that injured him at the Drunken Cloud Pavilion hasn't been found yet; it must have been hidden by Xiao Jingyuan! Once he catches that person, he'll surely skin and tendon them.

On this side, the granny led Shen Shuangning through layer after layer of Gong Qiang, finally arriving at the waterside pavilion in the garden, where she saw the Grand Princess.

Shen Shuangning put on an apprehensive appearance and performed a respectful salute.

The Grand Princess leaned lazily against the beauty's couch; her attire was far simpler than that day of the ladies' etiquette contest, yet she remained gorgeous and beautiful, making people dare not stare directly.

She gestured for Shen Shuangning to come forward and paint.

"I don't know what the Grand Princess would like me to paint, Your Highness."

The Grand Princess lifted her slender jade finger, pointing to the magnolia grove behind her, and said, "Just paint the scenery here."

Shen Shuangning complied, then added, "My humble painting skills are shallow; I fear they won't meet Your Highness's standards—I hope you'll forgive me."

The Grand Princess laughed, "Don't worry, I won't behead you—just paint."

Shen Shuangning sat and finished painting the entire magnolia garden; the sun gradually sank westward, and rosy light spread across the horizon.

She presented the painting, lowered her eyes to rub her sore wrists, and her heart pounded: Was the Grand Princess summoning her to the palace merely for painting?

Soon Shen Shuangning learned that the Grand Princess had indeed only asked her to paint, with nothing else.

"Painted well; that shall be the reward."

The Grand Princess bestowed many treasures upon Shen Shuangning, then had the granny send her out of the palace.

Walking along the palace path, Shen Shuangning pondered back and forth but still couldn't fathom the Grand Princess's true intention, so she simply stopped thinking about it.

For now she only wanted to leave this oppressive Imperial Palace as quickly as possible.

Who would have thought she'd run into Xiao Jingyuan, who was also leaving the palace.

Shen Shuangning silently thought, Entering the palace really brings no good—nothing but annoying people.

Having met him, she certainly couldn't pretend not to have seen her; Shen Shuangning stopped, bowed slightly, and said, "Young Master."

Xiao Jingyuan nodded in return, giving her a glance without changing his expression.

The Grand Princess's summoning of Shen Shuangning to the palace was no secret; he had known it all along. Now, looking at the slender woman before him, his gaze was thoughtful.

The palace was crowded and full of watchful eyes, with a granny beside them; the two tacitly pretended not to know each other and remained silent all the way.

The Duke's Mansion's carriage didn't come to fetch her; the granny escorted her to the palace gate and then left her there.

And now she had to walk back on her own?

Shen Shuangning sighed inwardly; behind her stood two palace attendants holding the bestowed gifts, at a loss what to do.

Who could have imagined that the Grand Princess had dispatched a grand entourage that morning to fetch her, only to discard her once she'd been used? The Grand Princess is truly willful.

The evening breeze carried a hint of chill, and Shen Shuangning shivered slightly.

Just as she was about to set off on foot back home, a carriage slowly pulled up before her.

Shen Shuangning stared, this was the carriage of the Yan Prince's residence, she knew it all too well.

The driver was Qingfeng, he jumped down from the carriage shaft, saying: "Fourth Miss, the Young Master ordered me to send you back."