Chapter 7: As it turns out, he wasn

Shen Shuangning only today heard from Aheng that she owed her rescue to Xie Lin because Song Xizhi had asked him for help.

Since that's the case, the Xie family has already expressed their thanks, so naturally they must also go to the Song family to give thanks.

Compared to giving gifts to men, selecting thank‑you gifts for women is much easier.

Shen Shuangning went to the Treasure Pavilion together with her sister Shen Ling.

As it turned out, she unexpectedly ran into her previous‑life husband there, together with his white moonlight, Song Xizhi.

Xiao Jingyuan dismounted, walked to the carriage, and gracefully helped a gentle, beautiful woman alight. The two entered the Treasure Pavilion one after the other, and everyone nearby stared.

Shen Shuangning also froze.

"Older sister, the Treasure Pavilion is just ahead; I heard they've just received many new fashionable styles."

Shen Shuangning immediately grabbed Shen Ling, not letting her go forward.

"Wait, let's first look at the clothing shop."

Shen Ling wondered, "Older sister, you want to buy clothes?"

Shen Shuangning's heart pounded; she hastily withdrew her gaze, gave a casual reply, and pulled Shen Ling into a clothing shop.

"Eh, but aren't we supposed to go to the Treasure Pavilion? Besides, Mother already made us new clothes."

"You might not like what others make; don't you want to pick something yourself? Anyway, we're not short on time." Shen Shuangning said.

Shen Ling thought that made sense, so she obediently followed her sister to examine the fabrics.

Shen Shuangning was absent‑minded, with no spare thought for anything else.

Having left without checking the almanac, meeting Xiao Jingyuan was bad enough—how did they run into both of them?

The clothing shop's styles were all outdated; they left without buying anything.

She had thought those two had already left, but the carriage was still waiting outside.

Shen Shuangning had not yet fully shaken off the identity of the Heir Apparent's consort; she feared that seeing them would make her slip up involuntarily.

"Older sister, aren't we going to the Treasure Pavilion anymore?"

"No, let's return to the manor. I have another plan for the Song family young lady's gift."

Shen Ling glanced back and happened to see Song Xizhi and Xiao Jingyuan emerge together from the Treasure Pavilion.

The handsome man and beautiful woman looked extremely well matched.

Not far off, Xiao Jingyuan sat on his horse; his gaze swept absent‑mindedly and fell on the carriage of the Rongguo Duke's manor.

Fortunately the road was wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side.

Xiao Jingyuan hadn't meant to pay attention, but when the wind lifted a corner of the curtain he unconsciously lowered his eyes and glanced.

The woman's fair neck and chin came into view, resembling fine mutton‑fat jade.

Though he did not see her full face, he inexplicably knew the person seated inside was the Fourth Miss Shen.

"Heir Apparent, I hear the plum blossoms on Li Mountain are in full bloom today—perfect for viewing. Would you have the time to accompany me?" Song Xizhi lifted the curtain, looked up at the man.

Xiao Jingyuan withdrew his gaze and said in a low voice, "As you wish."

Outside the carriage all kinds of noisy sounds continued, but inside Shen Shuangning could clearly hear the man's considerate "As you wish."

After four years of marriage, Xiao Jingyuan had never said those words to her; instead, she was the one who constantly relied on him.

It turned out he wasn't unable to say it, wasn't inattentive—he simply didn't want to.

Shen Ling exclaimed excitedly, "Older sister, that looks like the Heir of the Yan Prince!"

Shen Shuangning remained motionless, her interest waning, and gave a faint "uh."

Shen Ling peeked for a moment, then lowered the curtain and said, "I've long heard the Yan Prince's Heir has an otherworldly appearance; I didn't believe it, but seeing him now I know the rumors are no exaggeration. Older sister, if we weren't at the clothing shop we could have looked longer."

"What's there to look at? Looks good, but the person may not be good." Shen Shuangning casually picked up a book and lowered her head to read.

Shen Ling seemed still immersed in the man's beauty, not agreeing, "I think the Heir is better than many young masters in Jingcheng."

Shen Shuangning teased with a straight face, "Ah Ling, could you also be moved?"

Shen Ling shook her head, "Not really. Everyone loves beauty, but I don't want my husband to be too eye‑catching; otherwise I'd constantly worry he's being coveted outside, my heart wouldn't be at peace. If his heart were elsewhere, wouldn't that make the household unsettled, chickens flying and dogs jumping?"

That's exactly how the previous‑life Shen Shuangning thought.

Shen Ling is still two years shy of her coming‑of‑age ceremony, yet she already has such awareness; Shen Shuangning feels inferior.

Who let her judge by looks.

But having been reborn, her criteria for choosing a husband have multiplied; appearance remains important, but it's no longer the primary factor.

Having encountered someone she'd rather not see, Shen Shuangning's mood inevitably turned gloomy.

Noticing her low spirits, Shen Ling stayed quiet for the rest of the way.

The two returned to the duke's manor; learning that the Lady of Zhen Guogong had arrived, they went to the main hall to receive guests.

The Zhen Guogong Duke's manor, the Pei family, is also one of Jingcheng's prominent clans; the Pei clan once rivaled the imperial house, but after the former Zhen Guogong Duke passed away each generation declined, and now they subsist only on the favor of a Pei concubine in the palace.

The day Shen Shuangning was reborn was precisely to avoid her.

To be more exact, it wasn't to avoid the Pei clan, but simply an unwillingness to meet people face‑to‑face, so she had Shen Er slip out.

Never expecting the Pei clan to show up again today, it seems they are unwilling to give up.

The Pei lady is dignified in appearance, her eyes kind; Shen Shuangning's impression of her is still good.

She instinctively compared the Pei lady to the Yan Princess Consort; as a mother‑in‑law, the Yan Princess Consort had treated her decently in her previous life, but she was overbearing, and getting along with her always brought an inexplicable pressure.

This Pei lady, however, is different—gentle as a trickling stream, clearly easy to get along with.

While Shen Shuangning was covertly sizing up the Pei lady, the lady was also observing her.

Lady Shen introduced the manor's two misses to the Pei lady; the Pei lady praised both, but it was clear she was especially fond of Shen Shuangning.

Shen Ling unconsciously made herself less noticeable; she knows full well that, not yet having come of age, no one would consider her for the Rongguo Duke's manor.

"How is Fourth Miss Shen's health?" the Pei lady asked solicitously.

Shen Shuangning is not a naïve girl; sudden enthusiasm often hides an agenda.

She replied politely, "I'm much better now, madam, you don't need to worry."

Madam Pei grew more pleased the more she looked at Shen Shuangning, she took off the bracelet on her wrist and wanted to give it to her.

Madam Shen's expression changed slightly.

Fortunately Shen Shuangning did not accept: "Madam, you mustn't, this is too valuable, I cannot accept."

Madam Pei said, "It's just a greeting gift, not worth much, please accept it."

Shen Shuangning still politely declined.

Seeing this, Madam Pei did not insist, her face still bore a gentle smile.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Madam Pei was about to leave; she looked at Madam Shen and said with a smile, "Please visit more often in the future."

Madam Shen also smiled and saw her out.

Not long after, Madam Shen returned and asked Shen Shuangning, "Have you ever spoken with the young master of the Pei manor?"

Shen Shuangning shook her head: "I don't recognize them." Perhaps we exchanged a sentence or two, but I have no impression.

Madam Shen sighed: "This Madam Pei has two sons, yet their fate is cruel. One suffered brain damage in childhood, alternating between lucidity and madness; recently he hasn't been seen. The other fell from a mountain during a recent bandit suppression; I heard he's crippled, truly pitiful."

"The Pei manor does have another son, but if she is coming to propose marriage for these two sons, next time I won't receive her!"

Madam Shen let out a cold snort.

Meanwhile, Shen Ling was pulled by her mother Lady Yang to the covered walkway below.

"Did you just see the madam of the State-Protecting Duke?" the woman asked.

Shen Ling nodded: "I saw her; she came for my older sister."

Lady Yang said without elaboration, "If your older sister is going to the State-Protecting Duke's residence, you should go along."

Shen Ling immediately understood her mother's meaning; her lips turned white at once.

"That is my older sister's marriage prospect; I won't compete with her for it!"

Lady Yang snorted coldly and lectured, "You are so noble, refusing to contend or grab; in the future you will end up marrying a man whose social standing is inferior to that of your sisters' husbands!"

Shen Ling opened her mouth, voice like a mosquito: "But auntie didn't say she would find me a good family? Moreover I'm not yet of age, I'm not in a hurry......"

Lady Yang mocked, "Do you believe her words? Do you think that because you're close to Shen Shuangning she'll treat you like her own daughter? How can you still be so naive? One must plan for oneself!"

Lady Yang extended a finger and jabbed hard at her daughter's forehead, a look of exasperation: "Once Shen Shuangning marries off, she'll just cast you aside; when that happens, don't come crying to me!"

Shen Ling lowered her head further, tears trickling down.

Beyond a latticed gate, Shen Shuangning watched from afar, her brows furrowed.

A Heng beside her objected, "How can the Third Madam maliciously speculate about the First Madam?"

Shen Shuangning said lightly, "Human nature is like that; there's nothing to say."

Immediately her gaze fell on Shen Ling's frail back.

Every year Madam Shen provided Shen Ling with many new clothes, never treating her differently just because the third branch had declined; from head to toe, Shen Ling wore whatever the first branch gave.

The third branch not only failed to be grateful, but also schemed behind the scenes; if mother heard this, it would make her heart turn cold.

Shen Shuangning shook her head and left.

The next day, Madam Shen's headache acted up; Shen Shuangning cooked soup for her and personally attended to her mother.

Madam Shen lay in bed, her head wrapped in a dark-blue cloth, her face somewhat pallid; she looked at Shen Shuangning and said, "Just let the servants do this; you'll tire yourself out soon."

"This is what a daughter ought to do; Mother, try my soup."

Shen Shuangning held the bowl of ginseng soup, blew on it carefully, and brought it to her mother's lips.

Mother fell ill with headaches from exhausting herself for the Duke's residence; she ought to share Mother's worries more.

Madam Shen took a sip, her eyes lighting up: "Did you really make this?"

"Mother, do you find it tasty?"

Madam Shen praised without cease: "It's wonderfully tasty; I never expected Ningning's cooking skills to have become this good. Tell me, Mother, did you secretly learn it?"

Not knowing what she thought of, Shen Shuangning's eyes flickered with a barely perceptible dimness; she blinked, her expression unchanged, and said, "I learned secretly from my older sister."

The older sister Shen Shuangning referred to was the daughter of the Second House Madam, Shen Miaoyun, who had recently married into the Zhao family of the Loyalty and Bravery Marquis's residence; her life was very happy.

Madam Shen recalled something.

"Right, the Lantern Festival is coming up soon; the Elder Princess will hold a ladies' skills contest in the palace. In the past you'd slack off, and Yun Jie'er would go, but now that she's married, you can't avoid it."

In the Duke's residence there are three young ladies; the elder cousin has married, so naturally it falls to Shen Shuangning.

The ladies' skills contest includes a cooking assessment; Madam Shen had already planned this, so when the opportunity arose she simply stated it outright.

Upon hearing this, Shen Shuangning drew out an "ah" like a deflating balloon: "I only know some home-style dishes; I can't do all those fancy things."

Just as in her previous life, Shen Shuangning most disliked participating in contests where form outweighs substance.

Yet the Elder Princess in the palace is the most enthusiastic about organizing such events.

Madam Shen's decision admits no refusal: "You also know that your grandmother values the honor of the Duke's residence greatly; in these few days, go ask your older cousin for guidance, lest people look down on our Duke's residence later."

Shen Shuangning was unwilling to go, not only because she found it bothersome, but also because she harbored some avoidance psychology.

After all, in her previous life she first met Xiao Jingyuan in the palace, which began a karmic entanglement.

Having been reborn in this life, she absolutely does not want any further involvement with him; best never to see him again in her lifetime.

But Jingcheng is this small; unless he returns to the Northern Border, sooner or later they will still meet.

Anyway, he's not a tiger or wolf; what is there to fear?