Chapter 66: Xu Nian Visits the Sick, Shen Yan’s Change

Xu Nian had been so busy with the spring planting that she frequently traveled to Zhu Family Village, causing Wang Pingting to miss her multiple times when coming to visit. Fortunately, Xu Nian had not gone out today, so Wang Pingting did not make another wasted trip.

“It’s really not easy to find you,” Wang Pingting complained. “I feel like you’re even busier than the county magistrate! You’re a noble young lady—why aren’t you at home doing embroidery? What are you doing running off to the fields every day?”

“And you have the nerve to say that to me, Wang Jie? Ever since you got your Red Tassel Spear back, I haven’t even seen your shadow! Weren’t you supposed to teach me martial arts?”

Looking slightly embarrassed, Wang Pingting hesitated before stepping closer to Xu Nian and whispering in her ear, “I got my first period, so my mother wouldn’t let me run around. That’s why I haven’t come to find you.”

Seeing Wang Pingting’s flushed face, Xu Nian immediately understood and nodded knowingly.

“How are you feeling now, Wang Jie? Do you have any discomfort?”

“Ugh! You’re so shameless! How can you ask something like that with a straight face?”

Xu Nian shuddered. Young miss, do you even realize how terrifying your high-pitched voice is?

Feeling too embarrassed to continue the topic, Wang Pingting quickly shifted the conversation to Shen Yan.

“Did you know Shen Yan has fallen ill?”

“She’s sick? What illness? Is it serious?”

Xu Nian was genuinely surprised. Lately, she had been so preoccupied with learning court etiquette and managing the spring planting that she had not paid attention to anything else.

“It’s just a cold. When I visited her yesterday, her fever had just gone down, but something about her didn’t seem right. I don’t think she’s just physically ill.”

Xu Nian had only met Shen Yan once, but she could tell that she was a reserved girl who kept everything bottled up. With such a heavy heart, how could she not fall ill?

“Why don’t we go visit Sister Shen together? Do you think it would be convenient?”

“Oh, what’s inconvenient about it? She’d be thrilled to see you!”

Xu Nian sent Xiu’er to inform Tian Shi that she was heading out. When Xiu’er returned, she also brought a gift that Tian Shi had prepared for their visit.

Xu Nian, too, had prepared something.

“Oh! Did you weave this orchid yourself? It’s so pretty! Are you giving it to Sister Shen?”

Xu Nian smiled and nodded. Just as Wang Pingting was about to accuse her of favoritism, she caught sight of something bright red in front of her—the Red Tassel Spear. A section of auspicious clouds had been meticulously woven into the tassel.

Wang Pingting was overjoyed. If only she had brought her spear with her today, she would have immediately demonstrated a full set of spear techniques for Xu Nian to see.

The two of them prepared everything and set off in a carriage to the Shen residence. Since they were visiting a sick person, Xu Nian worried that having Liu Yun and Liu Qin with her might make Madam Liu uncomfortable, so she did not bring them along.

On the way, Wang Pingting remarked with curiosity, “I didn’t expect those two maids to be so approachable. Now I don’t have to worry about being scolded when I come to learn etiquette. My mother said she’d prepare generous gifts and send me over tomorrow. Hehe~ Won’t it be fun to have me around?”

Xu Nian glanced at her carefree companion and silently shed a tear in her heart. Knowing Wang Pingting’s personality, she was afraid that Wang would end up being punished even more often than she was.

“Oh, I’m thrilled, hehe~” Xu Nian said dryly. I just hope you won’t regret it later, my dear sister.

When they arrived at their destination, Xu Nian was momentarily taken aback. This place is a bit remote…

Wang Pingting explained, “Shen County Deputy comes from an ordinary farming family and doesn’t have much wealth. Madam Liu’s father is a rich merchant, but she was only a concubine’s daughter, so she didn’t inherit any family assets.”

Xu Nian nodded in understanding, then looked at Wang Pingting curiously.

“How do you know so much about their family affairs?”

Wang Pingting smiled sheepishly. It was because she had a mother who loved gossip.

“Oh, just things I overheard… Just rumors, nothing serious…”

Madam Liu was delighted to learn that the young lady from the Xu family had come to visit her daughter. She personally escorted Xu Nian and Wang Pingting to Shen Yan’s room.

Inside the room, Shen Yan heard the commotion outside but simply sat on the bed with her head lowered.

When Xu Nian entered, this was the scene she was greeted with. She assumed Shen Yan was still feeling unwell and was forcing herself to stay composed.

“I apologize for coming so suddenly without notifying you in advance. Sister Shen, are you still feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”

Shen Yan finally lifted her head slightly and curled her lips into a faint smile.

“You’re too polite, Xu Mei. I’m very happy that you came.”

Xu Nian didn’t mind Shen Yan’s cold demeanor—after all, anyone who was sick would naturally lack energy.

Seeing that there wasn’t even a maid in the room, she instructed Xiu’er to fetch a teacup. She then poured out a special tea she had prepared using ingredients from her spatial storage, hoping it would help Shen Yan recover faster.

“Sister Shen, I made this myself. Have some—it should help you feel better.”

Shen Yan accepted the cup and thanked her, but instead of drinking it, she simply held it in her hands, running her fingers over its surface. The room fell into silence.

Wang Pingting found this behavior odd. When she had visited yesterday, Shen Yan seemed to be doing much better. Why did she look so frail again today?

Xu Nian, having the mind of an adult rather than that of a young girl, had initially assumed that Shen Yan’s lack of energy was due to her illness. However, after exchanging a few words, she could already sense it—Shen Yan did not welcome her presence.

After setting down the gifts she had brought, Xu Nian decided to take her leave.

“Sister Shen, since you’re not feeling well, I won’t stay any longer. Please rest well.”

Shen Yan nodded in acknowledgment. As Wang Pingting, the last to leave, turned back to glance at her one more time, she unexpectedly met Shen Yan’s gaze and felt a sudden chill in her heart. What exactly happened?

Once they were gone, Shen Yan got out of bed—showing no sign of illness at all. She poured the tea Xu Nian had brought into the flowerpot by the window, then shoved all of Xu Nian’s gifts under the bed.

In her anger, the bundle she had tossed came loose at one corner, revealing the delicate orchid inside. Shen Yan’s gaze flickered with emotion, but in the end, her expression returned to calm indifference.

This illness—she had deliberately brought it upon herself by bathing in cold water. Ever since she overheard her father’s conversation, the resentment in her heart had only grown stronger.

“Why must she always fawn over others just to survive? Just because she was born lowly? She refused to accept such a fate. She would no longer be a mere accessory to others, no longer be at anyone’s beck and call. She had endured enough.”

Shen Yan looked out the window, but Xu Nian and Wang Pingting had long disappeared from sight. For some reason, tears began to fall uncontrollably, a sorrow so deep that it reminded her of the time she lost her favorite silver bracelet as a child.

Outside the Shen residence, Xu Nian, sensing the subtle, lingering gaze beside her, smiled and asked, “Wang Jie, is there something you’d like to say to me?”

Wang Pingting, usually straightforward, hesitated for once.

“Xu Mei… you’re not upset, are you? About Shen Yan…” She originally wanted to say that Shen Yan wasn’t a bad person at heart, but after recalling that piercing gaze, she couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence.

“Wang Jie, do you believe in fate?” Xu Nian mused, almost to herself. “I’ve always followed one belief: when fate brings people together, they gather; when fate is exhausted, they part. Some relationships simply can’t be forced.”

Just like in her past life—she had tried so hard to earn her parents’ attention, hoping that just once, they would turn and look at her. But relationships between people don’t always work through sheer effort alone.

Wang Pingting stared at Xu Nian in a daze. Though her words were spoken calmly and her expression was serene, an overwhelming sense of sorrow seemed to emanate from her, weighing heavily in the air.