The young maiden resembled a delicate flower raised in a greenhouse, every smile and frown radiating innocent charm and adoration.
This face was not unfamiliar to Shen Sangning.
“Miss Cousin?” Yufei exclaimed in surprise.
The young girl standing before Pei Ruyan, offering a food box, was precisely his cousin, the daughter of Pingyang Marquis – Yu Mianmian.
She had long harbored affection for Pei Ruyan. Though not desperate enough to become a concubine for love, her lingering resentment often drove her to the Ningguo Duke Residence to stir up trouble.
In her previous life, she had constantly schemed to incite Yu Shi to “discipline” Shen Miaoyi.
“Young Madam, shall this servant fetch the medicine from the Heir?” Yufei asked cautiously. “Miss Cousin and the Heir maintain a proper relationship.”
Shen Sangning smiled faintly. Of course she knew they were proper.
Even her own relationship with Pei Ruyan remained quite proper.
Shen Sangning continued watching as Pei Ruyan accepted the food box from Yu Mianmian.
Then, instead of leaving, Yu Mianmian seemed intent on boarding the carriage with Pei Ruyan.
At the palace entrance:
Yu Mianmian held an envelope, tilting her head up with blossoming delight in her eyes. “Cousin, didn’t Uncle attend court today? My father insisted I personally deliver this letter to Uncle.”
Pei Ruyan felt somewhat helpless. Though his father held the position of Crown Prince Tutor, in Pei Ruyan’s memory, he hardly ever attended court, let alone visited the Eastern Palace.
After all, the Crown Prince had been missing for twenty years.
After brief consideration, Pei Ruyan said, “You may take my carriage back to the residence. Father should be home.”
Yu Mianmian responded with a disappointed “Oh,” then asked, “Cousin, aren’t you returning?”
“I need to visit the Six Ministries,” Pei Ruyan replied.
As they approached the carriage, Chen Shu, who was guarding it, peered into the distance with confusion. “Heir, doesn’t that look like…”
Like the Young Madam’s carriage.
Following Chen Shu’s gaze, Pei Ruyan spotted a carriage bearing the Ningguo Duke Residence insignia not far away, its window half-open.
When their eyes met, he sensed the woman’s cold gaze and instinctively furrowed his brows.
On the other side, Shen Sangning impassively closed the carriage window.
Soon after, Pei Ruyan approached, his polite inquiry sounding outside the window—
“Does my wife have urgent business?”
Before she could respond, Pei Ruyan boarded the carriage, followed by Yu Mianmian.
The carriage happened to accommodate three or four people. Pei Ruyan took a seat beside Shen Sangning and introduced, “This is my cousin.”
Yu Mianmian sat near the carriage door, her expression momentarily awkward before quickly composing into a sweet smile—
“Cousin-in-law, you may call me Mianmian.”
Shen Sangning returned the smile. After exchanging greetings with Yu Mianmian, she addressed Pei Ruyan: “That medicine you took from my room this morning has passed its consumption date.”
Hearing this, Pei Ruyan pressed his lips together. “Just for this matter?”
“If you haven’t taken it, return the medicine to me. I’ll dispose of it to prevent accidental consumption.” Shen Sangning extended her palm, awaiting its return.
But he shook his head. “I’m not sure where I misplaced it. Couldn’t find it. Turned out to be a blessing in disguise.”
Lost?
Shen Sangning felt vaguely uneasy, her brow still furrowed as she withdrew her hand.
Suddenly, a soft, mocking laugh sounded. Turning, she saw Yu Mianmian’s face full of puzzlement—
“Cousin-in-law, do you need to personally come all this way for such a trivial matter?”
“If my cousin’s colleagues see this, they’ll surely tease him, thinking you’re being petty and inseparable from him.”
Shen Sangning’s heart remained troubled, and upon hearing this, she retorted, “Enduring affection has always been a beautiful tale—when did genuine feelings become a laughingstock?”
As she spoke, she gently laid her hand over Pei Ruyan’s palm, then suddenly smiled faintly. “When you have a husband in the future, you’ll understand the anxiety of worrying that he might take the wrong medicine, leaving you restless at home.”
Shen Sangning glanced at Pei Ruyan, whose eyes were slightly lowered, his gaze seemingly fixed on their intertwined fingers. Unable to discern whether he was pleased or displeased, she quietly withdrew her hand.
“Cousin and cousin-in-law’s relationship is truly enviable,” Yu Mianmian said, her smile unwavering, yet her eyes held hidden needles that pricked sharply.
Throughout the conversation, the carriage remained stationary until Pei Ruyan spoke, prompting it to slowly move forward.
Yu Mianmian immediately furrowed her brows. “Didn’t you say you were going to the Six Ministries, cousin?”
Pei Ruyan remained expressionless, speaking as if it were a matter of fact. “I suddenly feel a bit hungry.”
“Hungry?” Yu Mianmian lowered her head and glanced at the food box beside Pei Ruyan’s hand. “But isn’t there—”
Aren’t there snacks right here?
“Cousin.”
Pei Ruyan interrupted, casting a glance at the letter in her hand. “I’m tired. Please refrain from speaking.”
Perhaps his tone was too cold, leaving Yu Mianmian somewhat aggrieved.
Leaning against the carriage wall, he closed his eyes under Yu Mianmian’s hesitant gaze.
…
Shen Sangning observed his profile and indeed noticed the dark circles under his eyes.
Had he not rested well last night?
She couldn’t fathom it—it didn’t seem likely.
The carriage fell into silence again, whether out of awkwardness or to avoid disturbing Pei Ruyan’s rest.
When the carriage halted, Shen Sangning gently touched him. Before she could speak, he opened his eyes.
There was no trace of drowsiness in them—they were clear and alert.
After alighting from the carriage, as they stepped through the estate gates, Yu Mianmian looked apologetically at Shen Sangning.
“Cousin-in-law, I need to go with cousin to see Uncle.”
Shen Sangning hadn’t yet grasped what she was implying.
Yu Mianmian raised the letter in her hand, indicating, “It concerns court secrets. It wouldn’t be appropriate for you to join us.”
Court secrets didn’t pique Shen Sangning’s curiosity. What puzzled her was how such matters could involve Yu Mianmian.
In a moment, she figured it out.
Clearly, Yu Mianmian was merely a messenger. The letter must have been from the Marquis of Pingyang to the Duke of Ning.
Hence, throughout the journey, Pei Ruyan hadn’t glanced at the letter.
Just as Shen Sangning was about to respond, she heard Pei Ruyan frown and say:
“Cousin, it wouldn’t be appropriate for you either.”