Shen Sangning stared in astonishment. “How… how are you back?”
Pei Ruyan dismounted and handed the reins to the gatekeeper. Striding over to Shen Sangning, he looked puzzled. “Didn’t Chen Shu inform you?”
Just then, Chen Shu hurried out from the mansion. “Heir, while checking the return gifts this morning, we discovered one item was missing. We searched for so long that I forgot to inform the young mistress you would be rushing back… Please punish me!”
Chen Shu was deeply apologetic. He had nearly let the young mistress return to her maiden home alone—a fault he could hardly atone for even with death!
From this exchange, Shen Sangning understood: Pei Ruyan had come directly back after court without going to the Six Ministries.
Still, she was surprised he would set aside official duties to accompany her home.
Noticing Shen Sangning’s questioning look, Pei Ruyan lowered his gaze slightly. “I’m free today. We can go together.”
Meanwhile, Chen Shu began arranging for an additional carriage and had servants load the return gifts onto it.
The entourage that had followed Pei Ruyan also started unloading goods from their horses—basket after basket of sealed cargo dripping with moisture.
“What are those?” Shen Sangning asked curiously.
Pei Ruyan replied calmly and concisely, “Lychees.”
“Lychees?” Shen Sangning was taken aback.
Lychees were rarely seen in the capital, especially since it was only the third month, not the peak season for lychees.
Because of their scarcity, lychees were extremely difficult to obtain. Even a wealthy family like the Weisheng couldn’t buy what wasn’t available in the market. Only households with both power and money could enjoy them.
Chen Shu chimed in eagerly, “Young mistress, you have no idea—these eight baskets of chilled lychees traveled by water and land from Minnan, switching ice at every stop! It took nearly half a month of twists and turns to reach the capital!”
“They were supposed to arrive yesterday but were delayed by a day. They only made it this morning—almost didn’t catch up in time.”
It sounded like quite an ordeal.
Shen Sangning felt a mix of emotions, vaguely recalling that in her previous life, shortly after marrying into the ducal estate, she had indeed eaten chilled lychees.
Back then, Yu Shi had distributed two baskets to each courtyard.
Only now did Shen Sangning realize these were part of the return gifts Pei Ruyan had ordered last month.
“Thank you,” Shen Sangning said, genuinely touched—whether Pei Ruyan’s gesture was out of duty or for appearances.
Pei Ruyan gazed into her lively, shimmering eyes, his lips parting slightly to say “you’re welcome,” when Shen Sangning abruptly changed the subject—
“But there’s no need to bring these for the return visit. They’re too precious. Let’s keep them at the estate.”
They were too valuable to waste on her father.
She’d rather enjoy them herself.
Unfortunately, Pei Ruyan couldn’t hear her thoughts and mistook her refusal for politeness.
“I don’t agree with that,” he dissented.
As the loading continued, Shen Miaoyi, watching from the carriage ahead, clenched her jaw tightly.
Pei Che called out cheerfully, “Miaomiao, since eldest brother is accompanying sister-in-law, let’s set off first.”
Without waiting for Shen Miaoyi’s agreement, he led the servants and carriages forward.
Shen Miaoyi, lost in envy, stumbled as the carriage suddenly jolted into motion.
“Young mistress, are you all right?” Suyun, who was in the carriage with her, asked timidly upon seeing Shen Miaoyi’s extremely grim expression.
Shen Miaoyi said coldly, “Didn’t you say the two in Qingyun Courtyard haven’t shared a room these past two days?”
“Yes,” Suyun nodded. “That’s what I found out. It’s correct.”
Shen Miaoyi simply couldn’t understand it—in her previous life, when she returned to her maiden home, she had neither Pei Ruyan accompanying her nor any lychees!
Why did Shen Sangning have both?
How utterly unfair! How could such a thing happen in this world!
Could it be that just because Shen Sangning was rightfully engaged to Pei Ruyan, even if he didn’t like her, he would still respect her?
Whereas she, Shen Miaoyi, even though she was no worse than Shen Sangning, simply because of the marriage swap, would be despised by Pei Ruyan until death?!
Hah.
Shen Miaoyi forcibly suppressed the displeasure in her heart.
Anyway, Pei Ruyan wouldn’t live much longer—he could only flaunt his Heir’s authority for now!
Meanwhile, Shen Sangning fabricated a lie and said to Pei Ruyan, “My father doesn’t like lychees. If you bring them, he’ll get angry.”
“Are you perhaps trying to keep them for yourself?” A trace of doubt flashed in Pei Ruyan’s eyes. “Then take two baskets less.”
Shen Sangning shook her head. “Six baskets are still too many.”
“You… you’re so…” Pei Ruyan’s calm face suddenly turned stern. The words “stingy” ultimately didn’t leave his lips. “If you want to eat them, I’ll buy more. As the eldest daughter-in-law of the ducal residence, you mustn’t act too selfishly.”
“Selfish” wasn’t much better than “stingy.”
It was the first time Shen Sangning had been called selfish, and her eyes widened in shock. “How am I being selfish?”
Pei Ruyan didn’t want to argue with her and wisely remained silent.
Seeing this, Shen Sangning grew truly angry.
And here she had been slightly moved by the lychees earlier—now, all that remained was anger.
Shen Sangning lifted her skirt to board the carriage but was abruptly pulled back by Pei Ruyan, who said calmly—
“Take that one.”
An elegant and understated carriage appeared at the end of the alley—it was Pei Ruyan’s personal carriage for outings.
“Get in,” Pei Ruyan said.
Shen Sangning stepped into the carriage in two strides. Seeing Pei Ruyan follow her inside, she turned her head away, secretly fuming.
Actually, she somewhat wanted to ask why they had to change carriages.
This exclusive carriage was only slightly more spacious than hers, with a Qinghe Porcelain Censer placed on the sandalwood table, wisps of light smoke carrying a faint fragrance… Hmph, nothing special.
But before long, Shen Sangning understood.
The sturdy material of the carriage was the main point.
The eighteen-year-old Shen Sangning couldn’t recognize it, but Shen Sangning as the mistress of the household could—this was a material that was waterproof, fireproof, shockproof, and arrowproof.
As everyone knew, Pei Ruyan was not only highly learned but also excelled in the six arts of gentlemen, with exceptional equestrian skills. However, he rarely rode horses in daily life, preferring to take the carriage to and from court.
Shen Sangning now realized that the short-lived Pei Ruyan was quite fond of his life—this carriage could withstand assassinations.
Hmph, resisting assassinations is useless. In the end, he still died from overwork.
He never listened to advice—what’s the use!
While fuming, she inwardly complained, determined not to speak a word along the way.
Unexpectedly, a rustling sound came from beside her—the noise of changing clothes.
Shen Sangning turned her head and saw Pei Ruyan lowering his head as he removed his official robes, taking out clean everyday clothes from under the seat.
He had stripped down to his inner garments. Sensing Shen Sangning’s intense gaze, he said in a deep voice, “Don’t look at me.”