Chapter 10: Growing Up

Shen Shurong had originally been laughing—laughing at how flustered he looked, laughing at the nosebleed he’d gotten.

But as she laughed, her laughter turned to tears. Just yesterday, she had died in his arms. Now, they were forever separated by the boundary between life and death.

She had been reborn—but what about him?

Was he to live out his previous life in loneliness?

Shen Shurong’s heart ached at the thought.

Suihan had still gone out to see the guests off at the gates, and upon returning, caught sight of the Commandery Princess being helped up by Jinzhi and Yinzhi. A flicker of surprise crossed his face—why were there tears on her cheeks?

“Jinzhi, do you realize your mistake?”

Jinzhi had been steeling herself to offer another word of persuasion, but froze upon hearing that. She immediately fell to her knees. “Commandery Princess, this maid knows her mistake. But everything I did was for your sake. Just look—he made you cry.”

Shen Shurong didn’t point out what the mistake was. “Since you know your fault, go kneel outside for an hour.”

She—her most favored maid—was being told to kneel outside?

Jinzhi looked up as if she had misheard, stunned into stillness on her knees.

Yinzhi stepped in front of her, furrowing her brows as she turned to glance at her sideways. “Commandery Princess, allow this maid to serve you your medicine.”

“Yes, Commandery Princess.” Seeing the situation, Jinzhi rose and went out to kneel in the courtyard.

The intense emotion in Shen Shurong’s chest gradually dissipated, and her mood lifted significantly. This life—she truly existed in it now.

Suihan observed all this and finally felt a little more at ease.

Back at the Duke of Lu’s Mansion, the liveliness at the entrance couldn’t stop him. Xie Yunzhao burst into his room and locked himself inside.

He couldn’t stay still on the bed—first lying on his stomach, then on his side—until he finally curled up with the quilt in his arms. Only then did his heart begin to settle.

Just thinking about it made the corners of his lips lift in a smile. Today, he had entered her boudoir, embraced her—the fragrance at the tip of his nose, the warmth in his arms—it was all real.

But soon his eyes lowered again. Today, she hadn’t worn anything he had given her—not even the collar.

He didn’t blame her, but neither could she forget Xie Yunzheng. The moment that thought surfaced, the fire that had just been lit in his heart was doused in an instant.

Even so, he still shamelessly wished to be with her—to always be with her.

At Chaohui Courtyard, Yi Yu arrived in haste. “Heir, Second Master has gone over at this hour—he was likely invited inside.”

The ink on the paper began to blur as the hand holding the brush froze mid-stroke. “She’s not someone who would act improperly, especially when it comes to delivering a gift.”

“She should indeed have been invited in. But that doesn’t mean she’ll see him. In the Commandery Princess’ heart, there’s only you.”

Even if they met, what would it be but polite words of thanks? “I’m not worried—just distressed that she’s forcing herself. She doesn’t like it, yet still has to face him.”

“Whether they meet or not, if there’s no place for him in her heart, it won’t matter.”

“But on your side, Heir… those coming to propose marriage have worn down the doorstep. Even the personal stewardess of the Third Princess has come to request a poem. The Commandery Princess overheard some of it—that’s what stirred her heart.”

Xie Yunzheng closed his eyes. He knew she was prone to jealousy. Though it defied the propriety of etiquette, he had never minded—in fact, he welcomed it.

How else could she prove that she held him in her heart?

As a child, she had played more often with Xie Yunzhao.

“Delay it as long as possible,” he said. How could he bear to see her upset?

“Yes, understood.” Though he said so, it would be difficult.

The followers of the Duke of Lu’s Mansion no doubt hoped their young master’s marriage could be settled soon, so that the next phase of arrangements could proceed smoothly.

…

At Qiu Tong Courtyard in the Grand Princess’ Estate, Shen Shurong looked at the boxes sent from the Commandery Prince’s Residence and felt as if she had been transported back to childhood.

Bamboo dragonflies, clay figurines…

Neither Yinzhi nor Suihan wanted to look at them. There was nothing praiseworthy to say.

“Sister-in-law is just as frugal as ever,” she remarked.

Yinzhi and Suihan pressed their lips into tight lines. To call a gift frugal—only the future Princess Consort could manage such a thing.

Even though her natal family didn’t hold high official ranks, and her mother-in-law was in charge, having been married into the Commandery Prince’s Residence for almost a year, not sending a gift right away would lead to rumors and gossip.

“Let’s go. Take the gift and go meet Grandmother.”

Yinzhi was momentarily stunned. The Commandery Princess had always been protective of the future Princess Consort in front of the Grand Princess and Commandery Princess Consort. Was she about to complain now?

The three of them left the room, and Jinzhi, still kneeling, turned to send them off, her face showing a pitiful, appeasing expression.

Shen Shurong didn’t look at her and walked past with determination. You can like what you like, but you must show respect for mine.

The Grand Princess examined the items in the box, her lips parting and closing several times. In the past, she had spoken freely, but the girl had always defended Liang. Now, seeing her expression, she dared not speak carelessly. Who is the true ancestor here, after all?

“Grandmother, why aren’t you speaking? Do you think my sister-in-law’s gift is good?”

The Grand Princess shook her head.

“What do you think is wrong with it?”

The girl seemed to have grown up. This morning, she had even ordered people to investigate Liang. The Grand Princess continued to shake her head, waiting to hear her thoughts.

After dismissing the servants, Shen Shurong sat beside the Grand Princess, leaning into her embrace. “Grandmother, your granddaughter is not a child anymore.”

The Grand Princess smiled. “Hmm, you’ve grown up overnight.”

“If you don’t believe it, listen to me,” Shen Shurong said. “I cannot marry the Heir, and Xie Yunzhao will be suppressed and never rise to power. In the future, I’ll have to plan for myself.”

The Grand Princess raised an eyebrow. It seemed the girl had grown up a little.

“I also understand that you and Grandfather cannot always protect me. Back then, you chose the Emperor’s uncle, and you were wrong once. From here on out, you can only continue to avoid making mistakes. Otherwise…”

Before she could finish her sentence, the Grand Princess was startled. She thought the girl only wanted to think about her small family, but now she was suddenly considering the court?

Shen Shurong sat up straight, facing the Grand Princess, their eyes meeting. To her direct grandmother, she felt no fear.

The Emperor’s uncle had been in power for over ten years. He was better off not having it. Though diligent, he lacked courage and ability.

The treasury had been established since the founding of the kingdom, primarily to amass the national wealth. It controlled the silk, porcelain, gold and silver, and the interests from both the north and south, and even overseas. The power was in the hands of those trusted by the Emperor.

When the world was peaceful, the treasury was mighty, but now, with the country in turmoil, it no longer had the glory it once did. Yet, to outsiders, it was still a coveted prize.

Xie Yunzheng’s later actions in the treasury were what gave him the opportunity to gain favor and rise to power, even offering up his wife as a tribute.

Without the treasury, the influence of the Grand Princess’ estate in the court gradually waned. The forces that had once been aligned with her had turned to other factions, even coming back to suppress her.

She had been unaware of all this; all she remembered was how her grandmother would often sigh, and once inside the imperial palace, every bad thing and perversion would be deliberately shared with her, as though they wanted to see her upset.

The Grand Princess pressed her hands on Shen Shurong’s arms. “Who told you these things?”

Shen Shurong leaned in close to her ear. “Your granddaughter said, I grew up overnight. You supported the rightful empress back then, only to keep the treasury in your hands, ensuring our family’s eternal wealth and power.”

“But Grandmother, what about the rest of the world? What about the common people?” The state was in ruins.

The Grand Princess’ chest heaved with emotion. Did this troublesome girl even understand what she was saying? Had no one taught her?

“Is the Crown Prince really so good now? He’s probably not better than the Third Prince. Yet you still insist on supporting the rightful empress, because if you don’t, it’s seen as opposing the current reign.”

“Are you saying that Grandmother was wrong?” Had this conversation been related to her arrangements earlier this morning?

Shen Shurong tilted her head, smiling sweetly. “Grandmother is not wrong. Yongjia cannot endure hardship, so the things that belong to our family must always stay within our family.”

The Grand Princess furrowed her brows. “Have you discovered something? Is someone trying to seize the treasury?”

“The Crown Prince is far less manageable than he appears. I dare to wager that the first thing he does once he ascends will be to take back the treasury.”

“When the Emperor’s uncle was in power, the treasury’s wealth was nothing like it was during the reign of the late Emperor. Grandmother, at your age, can you really contend with him?”

The Grand Princess knew well that she was growing old, and the recent years had seen severe flooding, with water pirates and sea bandits increasing yearly. She no longer valued the treasury as much.

“Are you suggesting that your father should take control of the treasury? Or your eldest brother?”

The little ancestor shook her head. The Grand Princess was puzzled—besides her father and brothers, who else in the family had the qualifications?

Shen Shurong pointed to herself. “Grandmother, you should teach Yongjia.”