Chapter 43

The Shen Household.

The bright moon now hung high in the sky.

Large red lanterns were already lit and hung up outside, while the candlelight inside illuminated the rooms brightly. Shen Wei sat with Chu Fuyun on the soft chaise, the two of them smiling as they listened to Shen Chunting talk about life at the academy.

Shen Chunting, lively and quick-witted, spoke in a way that was both engaging and humorous, filling the room with laughter from everyone present.

When Shen Chunting finally finished speaking—

Chu Fuyun was wiping away the tears at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief while gently tapping the person’s forehead. She spoke with a hint of mild reproach, “Where did you get all these ideas from? Your father has always been steady, but I really don’t know who you take after.”

Shen Chunting, tapped on the forehead, only smiled mischievously. Leaning toward Shen Wei, he seriously said, “Father said Aunt was like this when she was young. Since I don’t resemble Father or Mother, naturally, I must resemble Aunt…” After saying this, he raised his head to look at Shen Wei and with a smile, he added, “Aunt, don’t you think so?”

Upon hearing this, Shen Wei was stunned for a moment. She looked at Shen Chunting’s clear eyes and smiled as she nodded in agreement.

Her hand rested on Shen Chunting’s head, her eyes and smile soft. “When I was young, I was even more mischievous than you,” she said gently. In her memories, because the original owner had lost both parents at a young age, Shen Xifeng had never restricted her, allowing her to grow up free-spirited, unlike the other young ladies from noble families. The original owner had lived a carefree and innocent life.

As she thought of this, she couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful. How could such a carefree, innocent girl end up becoming like she was later?

But this was only for a moment—

Shen Wei came back to her senses. Her hand remained on Shen Chunting’s head, but she continued, “But you’re a boy, so you can’t compare with me. You’re still studying, and you should respect your teachers. If Mr. Zhu finds out about this, he’ll surely punish you.”

Though Shen Chunting was mischievous, he knew the importance of respecting teachers. When he heard Shen Wei’s words, he quickly responded in agreement.

Chu Fuyun watched the interaction between the aunt and nephew, and a soft smile appeared in her eyes. She rested her hand on her waist and shifted her sitting position. After that, she began discussing a few past events with Shen Wei. As the conversation became more lively, the smile on her face grew even brighter.

The room was filled with laughter and joy when suddenly, from outside, a respectful voice of a maid announced, “The Marquis has returned.”

Before long, the embroidered curtain was lifted, and Shen Xifeng walked in. He was still dressed in a crimson official robe and holding his black hat. As he looked at the people in the room, a smile appeared on his face.

While handing his black hat to the servant Pan Qiao, he asked, “I could already hear your laughter from outside. What’s so joyful?”

Upon seeing him enter, Chu Fuyun stood up with assistance.

She personally handed a handkerchief to Shen Xifeng, smiling as she replied, “We were just talking about Suisui’s childhood.”

Shen Xifeng took the handkerchief and, smiling, lifted his eyes to look at the young woman sitting on the soft couch. In the flickering candlelight, she wore simple clothes and had a plain appearance, but sitting there, it was hard for anyone to look away.

For some reason—

As Shen Xifeng looked at Shen Wei, an unusual feeling arose within him.

He realized he had never seen Suisui so quiet before. This quietness wasn’t just because she wasn’t speaking but was a peace that seemed to come from within, a natural calmness.

Probably sensing his gaze, Shen Wei turned her head and smiled at him, her voice gentle as she called, “Big Brother.”

As soon as she spoke, Shen Chunting also stood up and walked toward Shen Xifeng.

When facing Shen Xifeng, Shen Chunting was less mischievous. He first bowed to him and then respectfully called, “Father.”

Because of Shen Chunting, Shen Xifeng came back to his senses.

He tossed the handkerchief into the water basin, reached out, and lightly patted Shen Chunting’s head, saying, “Alright, let’s eat.” Once he spoke, someone immediately went to arrange the meal. The food had been prepared half an hour earlier and was already warming in the pot, so it didn’t take long to bring it to the table.

The group walked toward the side hall.

The Shen family didn’t have such strict formalities as the Rong Guo Gong residence, so once the servants and maids served the dishes, they quietly withdrew.

The room was brightly lit by candles, and Shen Xifeng sat opposite Shen Wei. This time, he didn’t begin eating but, as usual, started by picking out a few of Shen Wei’s favorite dishes. While doing so, he said, “You always have so many people watching you eat at the Marquis’s residence, so you probably can’t enjoy it. Since you’re home today, eat more.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Shen Wei, then frowned and said, “I’ve noticed that you’ve lost some weight lately.”

Shen Wei felt helpless upon hearing this.

Though the Marquis’s residence had many rules, they didn’t allow others to comment on the master’s affairs. Besides, recently, she had actually gained weight, but only Shen Xifeng would think she had lost weight.

However, she didn’t say anything. She simply watched as Shen Xifeng picked out every dish on the table and piled them high in her bowl. Her already small bowl now looked like a little mountain. Seeing this, she couldn’t help but feel a little helpless. She said, “Big Brother, that’s enough.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she unintentionally glanced at Chu Fuyun.

When she saw the warm smile still on Chu Fuyun’s face, and the same smile in her eyes, she felt much more at ease. Fortunately, Chu Fuyun was generous. If it were anyone else, even if they didn’t show it, they might still feel a little uncomfortable in their hearts.

But even if they didn’t feel uncomfortable—

There was some things Chu Fuyun couldn’t say, but Shen Wei could.

So, after speaking to Shen Xifeng, she added, “Big Brother, don’t always worry about me. Now that Suisui is pregnant, it’s really important to take care of her. Don’t you feel heartache for her?”

When Shen Wei finished speaking—

Not only Shen Xifeng, but even Chu Fuyun was taken aback.

Shen Xifeng paused with his chopsticks and looked at Chu Fuyun beside him. Seeing the flush on her face, his heart softened considerably… He gently held her hand and spoke in a soft voice: “Sui Sui is right, it’s my fault.”

Although there were no outsiders in the room, Chu Fuyun couldn’t help but feel embarrassed when she saw her hand held by Shen Xifeng. She lowered her head slightly to avoid the gaze of those around her, her ears still blushing deeply.

Although young, Shen Chunting understood that his parents had a good relationship, so seeing this, he smiled even more.

The rest of the meal was naturally very pleasant.

Shen Wei, seeing that Shen Xifeng no longer focused on her, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

When the hour of Xu (around 9:00 PM) arrived, after finishing their meal, a servant entered to clear up, and Zhi Qiao also brought in some maids to refill their tea. Shen Xifeng sat at the main seat, holding a cup of tea in his hand, and said to Shen Wei: “It’s late tonight, so you should just stay at home.”

Although Chu Fuyun did not speak, her face showed approval.

Shen Wei, hearing this, paused with the tea cup in her hand. Earlier, Old Madam Xie had told her that if she stayed overnight, she should send a message back, but she felt uneasy… The longer she stayed, especially in the Shen family, even though she had memories of her previous life, she feared making a mistake.

After thinking for a moment, she lifted her gaze and said to Shen Xifeng: “Originally, I should stay for the happy occasion of my sister-in-law, but…”

She paused for a moment before continuing: “However, my mother has been ill recently, and there have been some matters at home. It’s not appropriate for me to stay at my maternal family.”

Shen Xifeng, knowing a bit about the matters of the Rongguo Duke’s household, though reluctant, did not insist. After all, his sister had already married, and it was no longer appropriate for her to live at home as freely as before. Thinking of this, he put down the tea cup and said to everyone: “If anyone from the Lu family dares to make things difficult for you, send a message to the house. Sui Sui, you must remember, you are not alone. You still have us.”

Shen Wei felt moved by his words, but the more she was moved, the more uneasy she felt.

She looked at Shen Xifeng and Chu Fuyun, and at Shen Chunting sitting beside her. All their faces bore warm and genuine smiles… Everything in front of her seemed so perfect, but it also made her feel like it was an illusion.

She couldn’t even bear to imagine—if one day they found out the truth, that she was not the original person…

How would they treat her?

All their kindness and warmth were because she was the original person, but if they knew she wasn’t, they would probably hate her. Thinking of this, Shen Wei lowered her eyelids, her delicate and fair fingers tightly gripping the tea cup. Once she calmed her thoughts, she smiled and lifted her gaze, saying, “Brother, don’t worry. I’ve remembered.”

Since Shen Wei had to return, she did not stay longer.

Chu Fuyun ordered people to prepare things, not only for Shen Wei but also for the return gift to Old Madam Xie. When someone came to pass a message, Shen Wei stood up, and seeing that Shen Xifeng and Chu Fuyun were about to see her off, she quickly said: “Brother, Sister-in-law, don’t see me off. It’s just a short walk, and besides, Sister-in-law is pregnant.”

Once she said this—

Shen Xifeng didn’t say much. He simply gave a few more instructions before watching Mo Qi help Shen Wei out. As he watched her figure get farther and farther away, he couldn’t shake the strange feeling that had passed through his mind earlier.

Seeing him staring at Shen Wei’s figure, Chu Fuyun assumed it was because he was reluctant to part with her and gently held his hand, saying, “Don’t worry, I see that Sui Sui has really become much more steady now.”

Shen Xifeng, hearing this, did not respond.

He simply watched as Shen Wei passed through the curtain and then lowered his gaze, looking at Chu Fuyun. Seeing the tenderness on her face, his heart softened even more… Shen Xifeng didn’t say anything. He just smiled and held her hand, softly responding.

—-

Jinjiang Tower.

The man in brown paused when he heard the words “calculation,” and asked, “What calculation?”

But seeing the guard with a sword retreat, his heart was no longer as flustered as before. He remained half-sitting on the ground, looking at the account book the man in blue handed over. He glanced at the people in the room, then took the book and began to flip through it. Upon seeing the calculations inside, his face turned pale. This calculation was known only to a few managers and trusted shopkeepers in the family—no one else should know about it.

How did this man have it?

The man in blue, watching the change in his expression, asked, “Is this calculation your own?”

The man in brown tightened his grip on the book. But thinking of the words spoken by someone earlier, he paused and stubbornly said, “Of course, it’s mine.” After saying this, his confidence grew, and he stood up, brushing off his clothes, then coldly said to the man in blue: “Who are you people? How dare you steal something from the Lu family? You have some nerve!”

The calculations in this account book, just like some dishes brought by women as dowries, were not to be disclosed. Moreover, this method had only been implemented recently, and it was handled by trusted staff and shopkeepers. He wondered where these people had come from. Thinking of this, his voice rose with anger, his face flushed with fury. “I advise you to be sensible and send me back immediately. I won’t hold this matter against you. Otherwise… offend our Rongguo Duke’s household, and you won’t have good days ahead!”

“You come from a family of farmers. It was only because you learned a few characters from the teacher next door that you managed to get into the Duke of Rong’s household as a servant…”

The man in black, still standing with his hands behind his back, did not turn around or even shift his body. After finishing his words, he continued calmly, “If you had such methods, you would have already been of importance in the Lu family long ago. Why waste so many years?”

His words caused the man in brown to change his expression immediately.

Before he could speak, the guard standing at the side drew his sword, the sharp sound of the blade sliding out of the scabbard breaking the silence. The blade was then pressed against the man’s neck… The guard’s voice was as cold as his face: “Aren’t you going to speak?”

The man in brown was so frightened by the movement that he collapsed to the ground. The ledger he had been holding fell to the side, and he stared blankly at the sword pressed against his shoulder. After a long while, he trembled and said, “I… I’ll speak.”

Although the person had once helped him, no favor could compare to the importance of his life.

Without life, everything was meaningless…

Moreover, that person spent most of their time in the inner chambers, and these people would not trouble her… He steeled himself, then looked at the man in black, trembling as he revealed the truth.

The man in black, listening to every word, paused in his movement, his hand still holding the jade pendant.

He kept his head tilted slightly upward, gazing at the bright moon in the sky, then smiled lightly. “So it’s her.” His deep voice carried a certain magnetic quality, like the sound of gold and jade striking against each other.

The man in brown, hearing “so it’s her,” became somewhat suspicious. However, feeling the pressure of the sword on his neck, he no longer had the luxury to think about anything else. He swallowed nervously and then, with a hoarse voice, asked, “So… can I go now?”

He quickly added, “You… you can rest assured. I won’t tell anyone about what happened today.” If that person knew he had spoken the truth, everything he had would become meaningless.

How could he possibly tell others?

The man in black, hearing this, said nothing. He simply raised his hand, and the guard understood, retracting the sword before knocking the man unconscious and carrying him away. Once they left, a middle-aged man in blue approached and said, “I never expected the wife of the Duke of Rong to have such abilities. If the manor follows this method, it will save a lot of manpower and time in the future.”

The man in black continued rubbing the jade pendant in his hand, and responded, “She is indeed formidable.”

Just as he finished speaking—

A shadow kneeled behind him. “The person who has been following that woman came to deliver a message. After she left the Shen family, someone has been following her in secret… It seems like people from Qiyun Mountain Manor.”