“Achoo!”
Shen Lichu covered her mouth as she sneezed.
“What’s wrong, Miss? Did you catch a chill?” Chunxing asked quickly.
Granny Zhao frowned. “It must be from being greedy for cold treats and eating too much crisp pastry.”
Lichu rubbed her nose. “I didn’t catch a chill. Maybe someone is secretly cursing me.”
“Miss, don’t try to fool this old woman with such nonsense. Tomorrow, you mustn’t eat that crisp pastry again. It’s only May. Too much cold food could make you sick. If you fall ill, think how worried the Lord and Madam would be!”
Granny Zhao wouldn’t stop once she got going.
“All right, all right,” Lichu said, humoring her. She could still sneak a little anyway.
She peeled a lychee and popped it into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out as she chewed.
Sweet and juicy.
“Miss, don’t ignore what I say. We’re far from home here in the capital. If you get a headache or fever…”
Suddenly, Granny Zhao felt something soft in her mouth—a lychee Lichu had popped in.
Lichu giggled. “Is it sweet, Granny?”
“Oh my!” Granny Zhao exclaimed. “There are only five lychees! How dare you feed one to me! That’s wasteful!”
Lichu shrugged. “Just a few lychees. I care about you, Granny. What’s the harm?”
She picked up another lychee and handed it to Chunxing. “Here, you try it.”
Chunxing, being younger, took it happily.
Granny Zhao was about to scold again, but Lichu waved her off. “These lychees are rare, but back home we eat them all the time. I just want to taste something fresh.”
The Wen family was one of the top households in Yuhang. Not as grand as the Ning Duke’s, but still wealthy. Being in Jiangnan, trading with merchants from north and south, getting some lychees each year was not hard at all.
Chunxing said, “I heard the Duke’s mansion got twenty lychees this time. The Grandmother doesn’t like them, so Madam divided five each to Miss and Third Young Master, then sent ten to the heir.”
Granny Zhao poked Chunxing on the head. “How dare you discuss the master’s business! Madam has her reasons for everything!”
Lichu pouted. “My cousin is so grown-up, yet he still fights with his siblings over food.”
Back home, when lychees were sent each year, her brothers always let her have the biggest ones—no one ever fought her for them.
Granny Zhao: “……”
“It’s just that Madam cares about the heir working so hard to quell rebellions. That’s protecting the country!” Granny Zhao quickly added.
Lichu nodded. “All right, fair enough.”
Granny Zhao went on: “This marriage for the heir is excellent. Out there, so many families are watching. Now that you’ve stayed at the Duke’s mansion, you’re close to him. You must get along well, or someone else might snatch this perfect match.”
Lichu popped another lychee into her mouth, confident. “No need to worry, Granny. I know what I’m doing.”
Granny Zhao sighed, impressed. “The girl has grown up.”
Once the lychees were gone, Granny Zhao took the empty plate away.
Chunxing leaned closer, curious. “Miss, how do you plan to get along with the heir?”
Lichu lifted her chin, mischievous. “Of course… I’ll seduce him!”
“Ah?”
As dusk settled, the Ning Duke’s wife personally helped him remove his outer robe.
The Duke was in a good mood. “Now that Ji’er has done such a great job quelling the rebellion, he returns to the capital and has been promoted to Left Censor. If he weren’t still young and lacking experience, the position might have been his already. His future is bright; even the Emperor praised him highly.”
The Duke’s wife smiled. “Ji’er’s achievements are also thanks to your careful guidance, my lord.”
The Duke stroked his beard and nodded. “He’s not doing too badly.”
Taking the moment, she said, “Ji’er’s career is going well, but his marriage can’t wait. It’s time for him to have a wife.”
“That’s true. Ji’er is already twenty-two. Still unmarried—it’s not proper. You can help choose; he’s busy with court affairs and probably doesn’t have the time.”
She smiled. “I think we should marry him to Lichu. They’re a perfect match—talented and beautiful—and it keeps the family closer.”
The Duke knew Shen Lichu well. The Shen family was a prominent clan in Yuhang, and Lichu, as the eldest daughter, had a respectable background.
He stroked his beard and nodded. “This marriage… it’s not a bad choice.”
He patted his wife’s hand. “You’ve been thoughtful all these years, raising Ji’er as your own, and now you want to match him with your favorite niece.”
“This is what I should do,” she said with a soft sigh. “Ji’er lost his mother when he was young. How could I not care for him? I just want to watch over him a little more.”
“You’ve treated him as your own for years. I’ve seen it. You’ve not only given him the position of heir willingly but now want to marry him to your cherished niece. He must understand your intentions.”
She smiled and pressed his shoulder. “I just want peace in the household and to ease your mind. Since you have no objection, we might as well settle this marriage.”
The Duke hesitated. His eldest son now held great power in court and had strong opinions of his own. In the past, he could decide directly, but now…
He paused. “Let me discuss it with Ji’er first.”
She smiled faintly and nodded. “As you wish.”
The next day, after returning from court, Lu Shiji found a servant waiting at the door.
“Your Highness, the Duke requests you come to the study after returning to the mansion.”
Shiji’s steps paused; he already guessed the purpose. He went straight to the main study.
“Father,” he said, pushing the door open. His usually stern father paced by the window, but today, there was a rare warmth to his face.
“Ji’er, come, sit.” The Duke smiled and took a seat himself.
Shiji sat calmly in the chair beside him. “Father, you called for me?”
His voice was neutral, showing no emotion.
The Duke studied his eldest son carefully and realized he couldn’t read him. Though they shared blood, Shiji felt distant, carrying an invisible authority that made his father uneasy.
He sighed. “Time flies. You’ve grown so capable. I’m proud of you. It’s also time for you to marry. These past two years, your duties kept your marriage on hold.”
Shiji lowered his eyes, saying nothing.
The Duke continued, “Your mother chose a good match for you. Shen Lichu, the youngest daughter of the Shen family—well-born, talented, and well-known to us. I think it’s a good match. It would also tie our families closer.”
Shiji lifted his teacup and drank.
The Duke glanced at him; his silence made the room tense.
Finally, Shiji spoke, his tone calm, repeating the words of his previous life:
“Father, this marriage is not suitable.”