Chapter 41

As the New Year approached, the bustling and harmonious scene in Shengjing, thousands of miles away, was evident. Many wealthy households had already started decorating with lanterns, and red lanterns were hung under the eaves early on.

Jiang Lianzhi looked at the figure in the painting with a wooden expression. He always felt it resembled but also differed from her. Sister seemed livelier than the figure in the painting, her eyes shining brighter.

Right, he had painted her as she was originally. In this life, he had known her earlier, and the Sister he saw was different.

He added a few strokes to the painting with his brush, stepped back to look, and indeed, she looked more like the one he had seen that night at the back door of the Shen Mansion.

A smile crept onto his lips, satisfied, he put down his brush, staring blankly like he had done in the previous days.

Servant Gao Jin knocked on the door from outside, “Young Master, Miss Shen Er is here.”

He listened closely at the door, but heard no movement inside. So, he knocked again, “Young Master?”

In the study, Jiang Lianzhi, who had been staring at the wall painting all along, finally moved.

He turned his head, his voice hoarse, “What is it?”

Gao Jin cautiously said, “Miss Shen Er is here. Madam asked me to inform you.”

Jiang Lianzhi fell silent for a moment, then asked, “What does she want?”

“She said she came to apologize to Master. She also brought some…” Gao Jin paused, that name had become taboo for Jiang Lianzhi.

“She also brought some of Yanliang Miss’s belongings.”

Jiang Lianzhi clenched his fists, trembling slightly. After a moment, he loosened his grip, “Let her wait in the side hall.”

Shen Yan wore plain clothes, with a white handkerchief tied on her head. She kept glancing towards the door, and after a long time, she finally heard footsteps.

She immediately stood up, wringing the handkerchief in her hand. When Jiang Lianzhi crossed the threshold, she bowed in respect, “Master Jiang.”

Jiang Lianzhi nodded and sat down, “What brings Miss here so late at night?”

Shen Yan immediately teared up, but she didn’t sit down. She said, “I came today specifically to apologize to Master. I know Master blames me, but I had no choice but to deceive Master about Miss Yanliang still being at home.”

“Miss Yanliang went to the border alone, and with the impending marriage, if this matter were known, it would tarnish her reputation. How important reputation is to a woman, I’m sure Master understands.”

During that time, Jiang Lianzhi would visit her home every one or three days, always bringing gifts for the daughters of the household.

He kept sending gifts for over a month, until the news of the border war came. He knew Shen Yu must be heartbroken at this moment, he was afraid she would cry. He didn’t care about any etiquette anymore, he just wanted to see if she was okay.

Until he found out she wasn’t at home at all, Shen Yan finally came clean, saying Shen Yu had gone to the border long ago, and during these days, it was Shen Yan who accepted his gifts on behalf of Shen Yu.

He personally went to the front lines to find someone, but before the person reached Yanliang Pass, news came from the Shen family that General Shen’s body was escorted back to the capital, along with Miss Yanliang’s body.

When he returned, the body had already been embalmed.

Jiang Lianzhi’s expression remained unchanged, “Miss Shen, please sit. There’s no need to dwell on this matter. I have never blamed you for it.”

Not blaming her for this matter? Then it’s something else?

Shen Yan choked up, “She’s my sister. Since I can remember, I’ve been loved by her. She never hesitated to share what she had with me. I am the one in this world who most wishes she could be alive.”

The side hall fell into silence.

After a long while, Jiang Lianzhi spoke, “Before she left, did she leave any words?”

“No,” Shen Yan shook her head, “She left secretly, and no one in our family knew.”

Jiang Lianzhi looked at her expression, as if trying to find some clues from it.

But there were none. Shen Yan met his gaze, her eyes showing no signs of evasion, and her grief was genuine.

Shen Yan turned her head, wiped the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief, and said, “Master Jiang, my sister never touched any of the things you gave her. Except for the pastries that went bad, everything else was brought over. I know about Master’s intentions for my sister, so I brought some of her belongings today, as a keepsake for Master. Madam mentioned that Master has been unwell recently. If my sister is aware of this in the afterlife, she certainly wouldn’t want Master to be like this.”

Jiang Lianzhi blinked his eyelashes slightly, then suddenly smiled. He murmured, “She wouldn’t care about me. She probably hates me.”

Shen Yan didn’t hear clearly, “What did Master say?”

“Nothing,” Jiang Lianzhi looked at her, “Where are her things?”

Shen Yan turned her head, and a maid behind her presented a beautifully crafted box.

Jiang Lianzhi opened it, and inside were several items: a hairpin, a wooden comb, and a small wooden sword.

He picked up the wooden sword and asked, “What’s this?”

“It’s a wooden sword my Sister made for herself when she was young, with help from my elder brother. She really liked it, and even after she stopped playing with it, she never had the heart to throw it away.”

Miss. Jiang choked up again as she spoke, “I originally wanted to keep it for myself, but Miss Yanliang had been everywhere in General’s Mansion, and her presence lingered in every corner. I think you need it more than I do.”

Jiang Lianzhi lowered his gaze, fingering the wooden sword, “Thank you, Miss Shen.”

Shen Yan stood up to take her leave, “Then, I’ll leave now. Take care, Master.”

Jiang Lianzhi nodded, “Yanliang, accompany her out.”

“Miss Shen, this way please.” Yanliang escorted Shen Yan out.

Jiang Lianzhi put back the wooden sword, picked up the box, and glanced at the sky as he stepped out of the threshold, casually asking the servant at the door, “Why did Miss Shen come so late?”

Miss. Jiang, who had come to comfort him, overheard and said, “What else could it be? Three members of the Shen family died in battle all at once. It sounds like a family of loyalty and righteousness, but in the end, there are no heirs left. Only a widow and a daughter are left. Everyone wants to take advantage of the situation.”

“I don’t know who spread the rumor that Mrs. Shen didn’t like her stepchildren and deliberately sent Miss Shen to her death. Now they are pointed fingers at wherever they go. It’s been tough for them. They can only go out when there are fewer people around at night.”

Jiang Lianzhi went to the study in silence.

Miss. Jiang hadn’t seen Jiang Lianzhi for several days. Lately, his temperament had become more unpredictable. She usually didn’t dare to disturb him in his courtyard, but today she finally found an opportunity.

“Lianzhi,” Miss. Jiang followed him.

Since receiving the news of Miss Shen’s death, Jiang Lianzhi had been in a bad mood for a while. Later, he lost his appetite, visibly lost weight, and became increasingly irritable.

Now everyone in the family treated him with extreme caution.

“Now that Miss Shen has passed away, she can’t come back to life. Your marriage can’t be postponed like this forever. I won’t pressure you to hurry up and choose a bride. Cuiyun in my courtyard has been raised by me, and you’re familiar with her.

She has a good temper and knows how to take care of people. I’m thinking of taking her as a concubine for you first. After you marry your principal wife, we can promote her to a concubine. What do you think?”

Cuiyun blushed with shyness and stole a glance at Jiang Lianzhi.

Jiang Lianzhi didn’t even look at her, his neck veins bulging, but he remembered that filial piety was the most important virtue. He suppressed his anger and didn’t explode.

The courtyard gate was right in front of him. He quickened his pace, turned around after entering the courtyard, and said, “Mother, it’s late. I’ll come to pay my respects to you another day.”

Miss. Jiang watched as the courtyard gate closed in front of her, and then turned to ask Cuiyun, “Did I say something wrong? He looked so angry.”

Cuiyun said, “Young Master probably hasn’t been able to overcome his grief yet.”