Chapter 64: with translation of chapter title

Duke of Rong's mansion.

Lady Liu had just returned from the Prince Yan's mansion, having suffered a setback; she had thought all hope was lost, but unexpectedly, after returning to the mansion, she learned from the servants that Shen Wei had already come back.

"Second Master is back?" Madam Shen exclaimed, then immediately worried, "How did he come back?"

He couldn't have been carried back injured all over, could he?

"Second Master and Second Lady are in the Hall of Virtue and Goodness," the servant said.

Lady Liu, without a word, hurried over.

Upon arriving at the Hall of Virtue and Goodness, Old Madam Shen and the members of the second branch were seated inside; seeing her come, Shen Wei immediately rose and respectfully addressed her as "sister-in-law."

Lady Liu was quite perceptive; under ordinary circumstances, Shen Wei would not show her such respect.

She nodded without changing her expression and said, "It's good that you're back; did you suffer any hardship at the Office of Pacification?"

Shen Wei still felt a lingering fear, and gave an embarrassed smile, saying, "Thanks to your sister-in-law's favor, they only asked me a few questions and didn't make things difficult for me; I just had to wait a long time."

Others were not as fortunate as he; several officials who had gone in still hadn't come out, and just thinking about that dreadful place made Shen Wei tremble with fear.

When Lady Liu heard the phrase "thanks to your sister-in-law's favor," a flicker of doubt quickly crossed her eyes.

She knew full well this had nothing to do with her; when she went to plead, the Prince Yan's consort had already refused her, so where did "thanks to her" come from?

However, seeing Shen Wei's demeanor, it seemed there were underlying circumstances, and Lady Liu said nothing.

Old Madam Shen had always favored the second branch more; now that Shen Wei had returned safely, the grandmother treated Lady Liu with much greater kindness.

Lady Yu also felt immense gratitude toward Lady Liu, regarding her as a lifesaver for the second branch.

For years Lady Liu had toiled tirelessly for the Duke of Rong's mansion, yet she had never received such praise before.

The grandmother again, in Lady Liu's presence, scolded the second branch, especially rebuking Lady Yu for not keeping an eye on her husband.

The second branch, knowing they were at fault, dared not utter a sound.

This was also the first time in many years that Lady Yu had been reprimanded by her mother-in-law; her earlier worries about Shen Wei had all turned into resentment, and she began to dislike the grandmother as well.

She is just a woman, and she can't watch Shen Wei every moment—can that really be blamed on her?

Lady Yu could only mutter to herself, while outwardly remaining obedient.

Lady Liu stood aside, silent, and she could somewhat tell that the grandmother was putting on this show for her benefit.

After leaving the Hall of Virtue and Goodness, Lady Liu had someone make inquiries, and only then learned that Shen Shuangning had been to the Office of Pacification.

Lady Liu immediately guessed it was related to her daughter; she felt relieved that she could help the family, yet also worried: How could Ningning go alone to such a place as the Office of Pacification? That's a place that devours people and leaves no bones!

Not knowing how Shen Shuangning managed it, Lady Liu did not pause, turning toward the Orchid Garden, but saw no one there.

After Shen Shuangning brought Shen Wei away from the Office of Pacification, she did not go straight back to the mansion; instead, she stopped at the residence of the Marquis of Loyalty and Courage, the Zhao family, and told Shen Miaoyun about Shen Wei's situation to put her at ease.

To her older cousin, Shen Shuangning gave the same explanation, saying it was thanks to their mother's efforts, without going into specifics.

Shen Miaoyun naturally had no suspicions, and was finally able to relax.

When Shen Shuangning arrived, Zhao Leyian was not there; she did not want to run into him, so she did not stay long, and while Shen Miaoyun saw her off, she voluntarily brought up Zhao Leyian.

"Your brother-in-law has gone to the southern suburbs to sketch lately, and he's been returning late recently."

Shen Shuangning frowned; her father-in-law had encountered trouble, yet he still had the leisure to go sketching in the southern suburbs?

However, seeing that Shen Miaoyun hadn't said anything, Shen Shuangning didn't press further, only saying, "Why doesn't he keep you company more?"

Shen Miaoyun smiled and said, "What's wrong with a grown man not constantly hovering around women? I encouraged him to go out and make friends. Your brother-in-law is a man of integrity; he doesn't want to rely on family connections and wishes to make his own way in the world."

When Zhao Leyian was mentioned, Shen Miaoyun's eyes filled with admiration.

Shen Shuangning dared not agree; after thinking, she reminded, "In these turbulent times, it's better to let your brother-in-law go out less."

"He knows his limits." Shen Miaoyun trusted Zhao Leyian completely.

After bidding farewell to her older cousin, the sky had gradually darkened, there were few pedestrians on the street, and the wind blew overcast clouds across.

Shen Shuangning sat in the carriage, one hand supporting her forehead, eyes closed, showing some weariness in her brow.

If it were just for Shen Wei, making this trip wouldn't be a big deal, but dealing with Xiao Jingyuan, playing mind games, is truly exhausting.

Moreover, she learned that he was the one who had saved her that day—truly a twist of fate.

Afterward, she was further disgusted by Song Xizhi, saying she was utterly exhausted in both body and mind, and so the meeting with Pei Zhi was postponed until the next day.

Having just seen her older cousin, Shen Shuangning again recalled her cousin's miscarriage in her previous life.

After Shen Miaoyun lost that child, Shen Shuangning saw Zhao Leyian much less often; in her cousin's words, he felt too guilty to face the Shen family.

And Shen Miaoyun, having experienced that upheaval, had changed greatly; when interacting with them, she always felt a lack of closeness.

Still uneasy, Shen Shuangning had Ah Heng go to the southern suburbs to check whether Zhao Leyian was really there sketching.

Ah Heng insisted on seeing Shen Shuangning back to the Duke of Rong's mansion before setting out for the southern suburbs.

Shen Shuangning returned to the Orchid Garden with Ah Zhao, and as soon as she entered, she saw her mother sitting on a rosewood chair.

"You're back." Lady Liu set down her teacup and lifted her gaze to her.

Shen Shuangning immediately composed herself and walked toward her mother: "Mother..."

Lady Liu did not give her a smile, but instead glanced aside and said sternly, "Sit."

Shen Shuangning obediently sat down.

"You went to the Office of Pacification." Lady Liu looked at her and said.

"Yes." Shen Shuangning did not deny it.

Lady Liu then asked, "Did you seek help from Master Xiao?"

Shen Shuangning paused, then nodded.

Lady Liu's expression turned strange: "What did you say to him?"

Shen Shuangning, her eyes clear and distinct, sat upright and said, "I just told the truth: Second Uncle only signed the profit-sharing contract for the Drunken Cloud Pavilion; he knows nothing else."

Lady Liu doubted: "Just like that, the Office of Pacification won't pursue the matter?"

Shen Shuangning replied, "It took some persuasion."

Lady Liu fell silent, lifted her tea and blew on it, then lowered her eyes in thought.

Shen Shuangning did not know that Lady Liu had visited Prince Yan's mansion.

The Princess Consort Yan herself told Lady Liu—that Xiao Shizi came from a military camp and had the nickname "Jade-Faced Yama".

In other words, he is iron-faced and unbiased, disregards kin, weighs advantage and disadvantage in all matters, is cold and nearly bloodless—even her pleas as his mother are useless; moreover, the more others plead, the harder he comes down on offenders.

Lady Liu had also heard a little of this, so when Shen Shuangning told her that a few words would soften Xiao Shizi's heart, she found it hard to believe.

Moreover, one must know that outsiders cannot enter the Embroidered Uniform Guard at all, and even the families of officials involved can only wait anxiously outside.

How come it's Ningning who became the exception?

Lady Liu couldn't help but carefully examine her beautiful daughter before her, studying her intently.

Now Shen Shuangning has grown ever more graceful and lovely; last year, when she came of age, she still had a childish air, but in the blink of an eye she has become as pure and translucent as a crabapple blossom under the moon.

Her figure is exquisite, her skin like congealed fat, every part of her beautiful; even the way her eyes move when she speaks exudes an indescribable charm.

This charm that emanates from her very bones is beyond comparison with ordinary young ladies of the inner chambers.

Looking at her daughter now, Lady Liu couldn't help but feel startled, and a thought naturally rose in her heart.

Could it be that Young Master Xiao has taken a liking to Ningning?

That would be interesting...

"Mother?" Shen Shuangning looked at her mother, who kept gazing at her, and felt puzzled.

There were no outsiders here; mother and daughter always spoke openly, so Lady Liu voiced the suspicion in her heart.

"Ningning, when you saw that Young Master Xiao, did he treat you differently?"

Shen Shuangning's face stiffened slightly at the words; she of course knew what her mother was asking, she rubbed her forehead and said wearily, "Mother, don't overthink it—the Young Master shows me favor only because of Young Master Xie."

She dared not tell her mother the details of seeing Xiao Jingyuan, so she used Xie Lin as an excuse.

Moreover, Shen Shuangning felt quite nauseated by Song Xizhi's words; now just thinking of Xiao Jingyuan fills her with annoyance, and her mother still suspects that Xiao Jingyuan likes her—she doesn't want to discuss this topic at all.

Lady Liu did not know that Xiao Jingyuan was on good terms with Xie Lin, but now that she learned of it, she recalled the princess consort's words.

"But......"

"Mother, I'm tired, I'm going to wash up." Shen Shuangning had already risen and fled to the inner chambers.

After a moment, Lady Liu reacted: "You child, you haven't eaten yet—how can you go wash up?"

"No appetite." came Shen Shuangning's willful voice from inside.

Lady Liu could do nothing about her; at least the second branch was trouble-free, and before leaving she added: "Tomorrow someone from the palace will come to teach you etiquette—don't run about before entering the palace, learn the rules well."

The Duke of Zhen's mansion.

The wind blew the evening glow over; above his head was a patch of clear deep blue, while in the distance the setting sun, like burnished gold, gradually sank into darkness.

Pei Zhi sat cross-legged in the library pavilion, an ancient zither placed on the long table before him; one hand rested on the instrument, the other on his knee, his unbound black hair falling over his shoulders, lifted and lowered by the breeze, his expression calm as water.

"Young Master, the Fourth Miss went to the Embroidered Uniform Guard at noon to see Young Master Xiao, and came out with Minister Shen by midday; presumably she arrived in time, and Minister Shen suffered no harm."

Fugui stood to the side, speaking respectfully.

Pei Zhi lowered his eyes slightly, gave a soft "hum," and said, "Since there's nothing more, let Lord Yao return."

Fugui answered yes, then couldn't help but ask: "Young Master, if you wanted to help the Fourth Miss, why drag it out? Now it's fine—she resolved it herself, and you're no longer needed."

Pei Zhi remained silent, his dark eyes holding a hint of menace.

He had guessed that Shen Shuangning would certainly go to the Embroidered Uniform Guard to rescue Shen Wei, but he hadn't expected Xiao Jingyuan to release him so easily.

The deed that Shen Wei signed was added later—in other words, Shen Wei had not been drawn into the scheme from the start.

And the one who schemed against Shen Wei is right here.

Pei Sanlang.

He had originally intended to use this to make any possibility between Shen Shuangning and Xiao Jingyuan impossible, but unfortunately...

After the sky had grown completely dark, Aheng returned.

At that time, Shen Shuangning was leaning against the bed, flipping through a book.

"Miss, Young Master Zhao indeed went with a group of young masters to sketch in the southern suburbs, but after parting from them he did not return to the marquis's mansion..."

Aheng's expression was somewhat hesitant.

Seeing her expression off, Shen Shuangning set down the book and pressed, "Then where did he go?"