At the first quarter of the Mao hour[1], the winter sun, just beginning to rise, climbed up the window paper, casting golden rays that painted a hazy pattern.
There were faint sounds of people moving outside, and Lin Xingxue’s consciousness gradually woke up with those fragmented noises.
Glancing up, she found Shen Hanxing’s face right in front of her.
She was lying in his arms, and she reached out to gently test the temperature of his cheek and hand. Seeing that he was no longer cold all over, she quietly sighed with relief.
She got up, made sure the quilt was properly arranged, and carefully got out of bed to dress and wash up, trying to make as little noise as possible.
She tiptoed out of the inner room, and a few breaths later, Shen Hanxing slowly opened his eyes.
His fingertips slowly brushed over where Lin Xingxue had lain as if he could still feel the warmth in his embrace.
Last night, he had returned very late, his body covered with a layer of frigidness. Lin Xingxue had clearly noticed something was wrong with him.
The young woman had covered the blanket carelessly, and once she fell asleep, she indeed moved closer to him. Her warm and fragrant body nestled in his arms, driving away some of the coldness.
Perhaps because they had slept together, the bed had become too warm, and it completely dispelled the chill from his body.
The young woman had carefully tested his cheek and hand temperature, and he had also felt it.
However, he chose to pretend to be asleep.
Shen Hanxing rubbed his brow, attributing his sense of unnecessary guilt to the confusion from soaking in the ice-cold spring last night.
Meanwhile, Lin Xingxue stepped outside and noticed a thin layer of snow on the ground. Snow was also visible on the eaves and in the distance.
It had snowed last night, and she hadn’t heard a sound.
The snowfall was light, and with the sun warming up, it would melt cleanly within half a day.
The servants had only swept the white snow from the passageways, leaving the snow under the trees in the courtyard uncleaned.
Lin Xingxue ran over in small steps, gathered a layer of white snow, and crouched down to sculpt it.
Hearing the crunch of the wheelchair on the snow, she first hid her hands behind her back and looked towards Shen Hanxing. As he approached, she offered him the thing in her hands as if presenting a treasure.
It was a snow bunny, though it was somewhat poorly made, Shen Hanxing could barely make out its shape.
“Ugly,” he commented bluntly.
Lin Xingxue puffed up her cheeks, looking a bit displeased, and tried to take back the snow bunny.
Shen Hanxing reached out, grabbed her wrist, and took the ugly bunny. After casually manipulating it, the bunny’s shape became finely detailed and cute.
Lin Xingxue was astonished, and she turned around to form another snowball for Shen Hanxing, writing the character “wolf” on the ground with a twig, looking at him with bright expectant eyes.
The young woman wanted him to shape the snow into a wolf.
But why should Shen Hanxing follow her instructions?
Despite thinking this way, Shen Hanxing still took the snowball and shaped it into a wolf with closed eyes and gentle face.
Lin Xingxue admired the bunny and wolf in her palm, then placed them back under the tree’s shadow.
The chubby white bunny lay beside the wolf, creating a strange yet harmonious scene. The sunlight filtering through the tree branches made it seem as though the wolf and bunny were leisurely basking in the sun.
Satisfied, Lin Xingxue got up, took over from Luo Yan, and pushed Shen Hanxing back.
Shen Hanxing glanced at the wolf and bunny, observing the tiny snowflakes melting. Soon, the wolf and bunny would dissolve under the sunlight and blend into the icy water, indistinguishable from each other.
This thought was peculiar yet pleasing.
Perhaps influenced by the young woman’s childish actions, he actually began to have such purposeless thoughts.
Shen Hanxing quickly dismissed the ideas from his mind.
When they left, the sunlight grew stronger.
Lin Xingxue specifically went back to look at the wolf and bunny. Upon seeing that they had already melted significantly, she felt a bit regretful.
This was the first snow creation her husband had made for her, and she wondered if there would be more in the future.
Shen Hanxing noticed the young woman’s dejection and looked at the melting snow figures, thinking she was too sentimental.
“Let’s go.”
Shen Hanxing’s reminder made Lin Xingxue nod and quickly catch up with him.
From the Jinning Hou’s residence to the Lin residence, the carriage ride took nearly an hour. By the time they arrived at the Lin residence, it was close to the Si hour[2].
When the Hou’s carriage stopped, there were also sounds of other drivers halting their carriages outside.
Lin Xingxue initially paid no attention, following Shen Hanxing out of the carriage. Until a voice called out, “Sister.”
The voice was soft and gentle, approaching step by step.
Lin Xingxue’s footsteps faltered, and she seemed to pause for a moment.
Shen Hanxing glanced at her and then looked towards the person behind them.
A gracefully dressed woman was walking over, accompanied by her husband who was also handsome. They appeared to be a happy couple, harmonious and well-matched.
“Sister,” Lin Xingran greeted with a smile as she gently supported Lin Xingxue, “No need to be so formal. We are sisters; there’s no need for such distance. On the way here, I was still wondering if you would come back home. I thought you might not return, but unexpectedly, you came back with your husband…”
When Lin Xingran mentioned her husband, she naturally looked at Shen Hanxing.
She first noticed Shen Hanxing’s immobile legs, and her heart relaxed slightly, then she saw his face.
Even before Shen Hanxing had become bound to the wheelchair, despite his bloody hands, there had been women admiring him. Even when rumors painted him in a very negative light, there were still women willing to marry him. If it weren’t for the fact that he had personally killed a maid in front of his then-fiancée, it wouldn’t have led to his current state where no one dared to marry him.
Lin Xingran had imagined Jinming Hou as a fierce and terrifying figure, but she didn’t expect to see a handsome and deep-eyed man.
Unlike Gu Yan, who had a scholarly air, Shen Hanxing was a war hero emerging from a sea of corpses. Though he exuded a sharp aura of killing, it became much gentler when he deliberately restrained it.
This kind of gentleness, when exhibited by someone with a generally fierce demeanor, becomes even more captivating.
And his gentleness was clearly not directed at Lin Xingran.
In the moment Lin Xingran was lost in thought, Lin Xingxue withdrew her hand.
Just as she was about to grasp the wheelchair’s handrail, Shen Hanxing stopped her, holding her hands and feeling the cold temperature. He frowned and said, “Luo Yan, take out the hand warmer from the carriage.”
He reached out and took the hand warmer from Luo Yan and placed it in Lin Xingxue’s arms, saying in a soft voice, “In this cold weather, I won’t be responsible if you catch a cold due to staying outside like this.
It sounded like he was reprimanding Lin Xingxue for not taking care of herself, but he was actually criticizing Lin Xingran for lingering and not letting them into the house.
Lin Xingran’s face turned awkward in an instant, and Gu Yan stepped forward to accompany her, bowing with cupped hands to Shen Hanxing, “General Shen.”
He did not address him as Hou.
Most people in the court knew that Shen Hanxing disliked being addressed as Hou, and Gu Yan, being an official, would also be aware of this.
Or perhaps, he didn’t hear it from others, but rather, he found out through his own inquiries.
Shen Hanxing wasn’t concerned with the intricacies of the situation. It was clear that Gu Yan was there to help Lin Xingran out of a difficult spot.
Shen Hanxing smiled lightly and casually said, “Lord Gu’s manners are better than your wife’s.”
Lin Xingran, upon hearing this, immediately clenched her hands.
She finally realized that Shen Hanxing’s title and rank were higher than Gu Yan’s, and even Gu Yan had to bow to him.
Not only Gu Yan, but her own father was also in the same position.
With respect and hierarchy in mind, she, as a young lady, had no right to address him as her brother-in-law.
The scene fell silent, as if everyone was waiting for Lin Xingran to bow.
If she were to bow to Shen Hanxing, she would also have to bow to Lin Xingxue.
Lin Xingran was unwilling and remained stiff.
Lin Xingxue gently tugged at Shen Hanxing’s sleeve, knowing her sister’s proud nature and not wanting to argue with her here.
Just then, from within the quiet Lin residence, Lin Fucai and Lady Han hurried out.As Lin Fucai saw the apparent confrontation of four people outside the gate, his heart skipped a beat. He then smiled and stepped forward to bow with cupped hands to Shen Hanxing, saying, “This official greets Jinning Hou.”
Clearly, Lin Fucai was one of the few who was unaware.
Shen Hanxing’s eyebrows raised, his gaze sharp and intimidating.
Lin Fucai was confused, not understanding his mistake.
Gu Yan whispered, “Father-in-law, you should address General Shen.”
Lin Fucai didn’t understand but promptly corrected himself, “This official is rude. Greetings to General Shen.”
Shen Hanxing responded indifferently, and the awkward moment passed.
Lin Fucai wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, signaling the servants to clear the path and welcome Shen Hanxing inside.
He hadn’t expected Shen Hanxing to come. Now, he was cautious and respectful, afraid of making a mistake.
Lin Xingran saw her father being so humble and couldn’t help but glance at Shen Hanxing.
Everything seemed different from what she had imagined. She had thought that Lin Xingxue would suffer greatly, but now it appeared that Shen Hanxing valued Lin Xingxue quite a lot; otherwise, he wouldn’t have accompanied her back to her family home.
Lin Xingran suppressed her thoughts and glanced at Gu Yan. Seeing him absentmindedly staring at something ahead, she followed his gaze and saw the back of a woman in a crimson dress.
Gu Yan was looking at Lin Xingxue.
Lin Xingran’s finger pricked against something sharp, drawing blood, and her recently stabilized emotions suddenly became unbalanced again.
Lin Xingxue stayed by Shen Hanxing’s side and passed through the flower gate to reach the main courtyard – Yunxiao Courtyard – where Lady Han and Lin Fucai resided.
Since Old Madam Lin had taken the youngest master out for the New Year, they didn’t need to go to Shou’an Hall to pay respects.
Lady Han had noticed Lin Xingran’s bad mood earlier, and now took the opportunity to speak privately with her daughter.
Lin Fucai sat awkwardly in the main seat, with Gu Yan and Shen Hanxing seated on either side.
These two men seemed like formidable figures. Gu Yan looked gentle, but there was a hint of sharpness in his eyes.
Lin Xingxue greeted Lady Han, briefly inquired about her well-being, and then took the initiative to leave the inner room[3]. When she came out, she could also sense the increasingly frosty atmosphere.
Lin Xingxue greeted her father and then walked over to Shen Hanxing’s side. Seeing that he seemed bored, she pointed to the chessboard nearby and suggested they play a game.
Shen Hanxing raised his brows, a smile playing on his lips, “You couldn’t tell that I was giving way to you last time? Are you planning to have me say more strange things if you win?”
Lin Xingxue patted his hand, signaling that others were present.
Besides, how could praising her be considered strange?
The two of them were behaving intimately. From Gu Yan’s perspective, he could see Lin Xingxue smiling, with a touch of annoyance in her eyes.
He had never seen the young lady with such a charming and delicate appearance.
Gu Yan suddenly stood up, startling Lin Fucai. “What’s wrong?”
Gu Yan smiled apologetically and looked at Shen Hanxing, “Sitting here is rather dull. I wonder if General Shen would like to play a game of chess with me?”
This aligned with Lin Xingxue’s thoughts.
Shen Hanxing played with the young woman’s hand and slowly asked, “Then, what will Lord Gu wager?”
“What does General Shen want?”
“Simple,” Shen Hanxing flicked at the Yulan magnolia sachet at Lin Xingxue’s waist, then looked at Gu Yan, his gaze landing on the dark-colored sachet at his waist. “That will be the wager.”
He could tell that the dark green sachet was a replica of the Yulan magnolia sachet on the young woman’s waist.
Hu Li (aka Fox)’s comment: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT LOL
Anon: HELP NOT FOX ENCOURAGING THE FIGHT(but…FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT)
[1] approximately 6:00 AM
[2] approximately 10:00 AM
[3] the inner room should be where only the women can reside