The night had grown quiet by the time Shen Xuan finally found herself alone with Shen Yichen.
The little boy had fallen asleep sometime during their play.
One moment, he had been enthusiastically demanding another round of hide-and-seek.
The next, he had curled up on the lounge chair beneath the flowering tree and fallen into a deep sleep.
Shen Xuan stood beside him for a while, looking down at his peaceful face.
His little hands were curled beneath his cheek, and his breathing was slow and even.
She couldn’t help smiling.
"This little fellow."
She gently brushed a strand of hair away from his forehead.
"You wore yourself out."
Shen Yichen only mumbled something in his sleep before turning his face toward the back of the chair.
Shen Xuan looked toward the darkening sky.
It was getting late.
His mother would certainly be looking for him.
There was no way she could leave him sleeping outside.
"Come on."
Shen Xuan carefully bent down.
She slipped one arm beneath his legs and the other around his upper body.
Then, with some effort, she lifted him.
The boy was heavier than he looked.
Shen Xuan nearly stumbled.
"Goodness..."
She quickly steadied herself.
"How much food does your mother feed you?"
Shen Yichen remained completely unaware of the complaint.
He simply rested his head against her shoulder and continued sleeping.
Xiao Mei immediately stepped forward.
"Young Miss, allow me to carry Young Master."
"No."
Shen Xuan adjusted the little boy carefully.
"I’ll take him."
"But..."
"He is my nephew."
Shen Xuan smiled.
"I can carry him."
Xiao Mei hesitated before finally nodding.
"Yes, Young Miss."
Xiao Cao quietly picked up a lantern.
"I’ll light the way."
"I’ll go ahead," Xiao Mei added.
The three of them then left the courtyard.
Shen Xuan carried the sleeping Shen Yichen on her back, supporting him carefully so that his head would not fall.
Xiao Cao walked ahead with the lantern.
Xiao Mei followed behind.
The warm glow of the lantern illuminated the stone path as they walked through the Shen Residence.
The night air was cool.
The scent of flowers lingered in the breeze.
Most of the household had already begun settling down for the night.
Yet whenever servants encountered Shen Xuan along the way, they immediately stopped and bowed.
"Greetings, Second Miss."
"Greetings, Second Miss."
Shen Xuan would simply smile and nod.
"Mm."
Their gazes would inevitably fall upon the sleeping little master resting on her back.
Some servants couldn’t help smiling.
The sight was heartwarming.
The youngest daughter of the Grand Chancellor carrying her little nephew through the residence late at night was something they had grown accustomed to seeing.
Eventually, Shen Xuan reached the courtyard where Shen Zhiqian and Mo Yunxui lived.
The guards stationed outside immediately bowed.
"Greetings, Second Miss."
"Mm."
Before Shen Xuan could even enter, a familiar voice came from inside.
"Awu!"
Shen Xuan looked up.
Mo Yunxui hurried toward her.
Her expression immediately softened when she saw Shen Yichen sleeping peacefully on Shen Xuan’s back.
"You were carrying him all this way?"
Mo Yunxui reached out.
"I was just about to go and bring him back."
Shen Xuan carefully transferred the sleeping boy into her sister-in-law’s arms.
Mo Yunxui adjusted him against her shoulder before signaling to the nearby servants.
"Take Young Master inside."
"Yes, Madam."
Two servants immediately came forward.
They carefully took Shen Yichen from Mo Yunxui and carried him inside.
Mo Yunxui watched until they disappeared before turning back toward Shen Xuan.
"Thank you, Awu."
"It’s nothing."
Shen Xuan smiled.
She brushed a few wrinkles from her dress.
Then she looked around.
Something seemed to be missing.
"Where is Big Brother?"
Mo Yunxui’s smile faded slightly.
She let out a quiet sigh.
"Not yet."
"Not yet?"
"He has been coming home late these days."
She paused.
"Your father as well."
Shen Xuan’s brows furrowed.
"Father too?"
Mo Yunxui nodded.
"They’ve been spending more time in the court recently."
She didn’t elaborate.
There was no need.
Shen Xuan simply nodded.
"Hmm..."
"That’s strange."
She thought about it for a moment.
But then she immediately dismissed the thought.
It wasn’t her concern.
Court matters were complicated.
Very complicated.
And Shen Xuan had absolutely no interest in complicated matters.
"Well..."
She smiled.
"I’ll be going back now."
Mo Yunxui nodded.
"Go and rest."
"Good night, Sister-in-law."
"Good night, Awu."
Shen Xuan turned around.
Xiao Mei and Xiao Cao followed her.
As they walked back toward her courtyard, Shen Xuan stretched lazily.
"It’s best if I don’t involve myself with matters concerning the court."
"A salted fish doesn’t poke its nose into complicated matters."
"Besides, the imperial court can’t possibly be peaceful all the time."
She yawned.
"I wonder what I should eat for breakfast tomorrow..."
Her expression immediately brightened.
That was a much more important question.
By the time Shen Xuan returned to her courtyard, the night had become completely quiet.
She changed into her sleeping clothes, washed up, and eventually retired to bed.
The strange feeling she had experienced earlier was quickly forgotten.
At least...
For the night.
The next morning arrived peacefully.
Sunlight streamed through the windows.
Birds chirped from the branches outside.
The courtyard was filled with the fresh scent of flowers.
Shen Xuan sat beneath her favorite tree, reclining comfortably while reading a book.
A plate of sliced fruit rested beside her.
Every now and then, she would turn a page.
Then pick up a piece of fruit.
Then continue reading.
It was a perfect morning.
No court affairs.
No palace visits.
No assassins.
No Crown Prince.
No troublesome events.
Just peace.
Exactly how she liked it.
"Awu!"
An excited female voice suddenly rang through the courtyard.
Shen Xuan’s eyes immediately brightened.
She lowered her book.
Then she stood.
"Big Sister!"
A graceful figure hurried toward her.
Shen Xuan ran forward.
The two sisters embraced.
Shen Xuan looked at the woman in front of her and smiled.
Her elder sister, Shen Yuerou, was now nineteen.
Time had transformed the talented maiden who had once been famous throughout the capital into an even more beautiful woman.
She was dressed in elegant robes, her long black hair arranged in a graceful style.
Her every movement carried the same refinement she had possessed since childhood.
She looked almost as though she had stepped out of a painting.
Yet when she looked at Shen Xuan, all that elegance disappeared beneath the warmth of an elder sister who adored her younger sister.
"Awu has grown even more beautiful."
Shen Yuerou gently pinched her cheek.
"Big sister is beautiful too."
Shen Xuan smiled.
Shen Yuerou laughed.
The two sisters walked toward the lounge chairs.
Shen Xuan had not seen her sister in quite some time.
After her marriage, Shen Yuerou had moved with her husband to Jiangnan.
Her husband was Jiang Rong’an, the son of the Emperor’s younger sister.
Their marriage had been arranged by imperial decree.
But unlike the marriage Shen Yuerou had been destined for in the original novel, this one had not begun with humiliation.
In the original story...
Shen Yuerou had been drugged during a palace banquet.
She had been deliberately set up to spend the night with Jiang Rong’an.
Once the incident became known, there had been witnesses.
There had been the reputation of the imperial clan to consider.
And there had been the dignity of a young lady from the Grand Chancellor’s household.
The Emperor had therefore issued a marriage decree almost immediately.
The marriage had been rushed.
Shen Yuerou had carried that stain for years.
It had been one of the darkest moments of her life.
Yet, ironically, she and Jiang Rong’an had eventually fallen deeply in love.
They had gone from an unfortunate marriage to genuine affection.
So much so that when Shen Xuan was imprisoned by Zhang Jingyuan in the original story, Shen Yuerou and her husband had risked everything to help her escape.
They had failed.
Zhang Jingyuan had discovered their plan.
And both had eventually been killed.
Shen Xuan remembered that part of the novel clearly.
That was why she had acted.
Before the palace banquet where the original tragedy was supposed to happen, Shen Xuan had secretly prepared a small fragrance pouch for her sister.
It contained herbs that could help counteract certain intoxicating and aphrodisiac fragrances.
She had given it to Shen Yuerou without revealing the true reason.
The result had been completely different.
The scheme against Shen Yuerou had failed.
There had been no scandal.
No forced marriage.
And no humiliation.
Instead...
Shen Yuerou and Jiang Rong’an had met properly.
They had spoken.
They had discovered that they suited each other.
And what had originally been destined to become a tragic marriage had instead become love at first sight.
Shen Xuan had silently congratulated herself.
"See?"
"Another tragedy avoided."
"This salted fish is secretly saving lives."
She looked at her sister’s radiant face.
Her smile grew.
She was glad.
Very glad.
"My siblings all make marriage seem like a good thing."
Shen Xuan’s smile suddenly stiffened.
"But I have nothing but bad memories associated with it."
Her mind immediately recalled the original story.
The obsessive Crown Prince.
The imprisoned Shen Xuan.
The ruined Shen family.
The blood.
The betrayal.
The ending.
A chill ran down her spine.
She shivered.
Shen Yuerou noticed immediately.
"Awu?"
"I’m fine."
Shen Xuan quickly smiled.
"It’s just a little cold."
Shen Yuerou looked at her suspiciously.
But she didn’t press.
Instead, she gently held Shen Xuan’s hand.
"Big sister is here."
Shen Xuan smiled.
"Big Sister..."
She leaned closer.
"What brings you to the capital?"
Shen Yuerou’s smile slowly faded.
Her fingers tightened slightly around Shen Xuan’s hand.
"Well..."
Her voice became more serious.
She led Shen Xuan toward the lounge chair beneath the tree.
"Let’s sit."
Shen Xuan’s expression became curious.
She followed.
The two sisters sat opposite each other.
Xiao Mei and Xiao Cao quietly withdrew to a respectful distance.
Shen Yuerou looked at her younger sister.
"The imperial clan has been summoned to the capital."
Shen Xuan’s smile disappeared.
She stared at her sister.
"The imperial clan?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I don’t know."
Shen Yuerou shook her head.
"Jiang Rong’an received the summons as well."
The moment she heard that...
Something inside Shen Xuan clicked.
Her mind immediately began connecting the pieces.
Her expression slowly became solemn.
"Wait."
"Zhang Jingyuan just left for the southern province."
"And now the imperial clan has been summoned to the capital?"
Her eyes widened.
"Father and Big Brother have also been coming home late these days."
"Second Big Brother isn’t here either."
"And now my sister and brother-in-law have been summoned back."
One thought followed another.
The peaceful life she had carefully built over the past years suddenly felt fragile.
Shen Xuan swallowed.
"I don’t like this."
"I really don’t like this at all."
Her fingers tightened around the edge of her sleeve.
For fourteen years, she had done everything possible to avoid the original plot.
She had prevented tragedies.
She had avoided the palace.
She had avoided standing out.
She had avoided unnecessary relationships.
She had eaten.
She had slept.
She had played.
She had read books.
She had lived peacefully.
She had been a perfect salted fish.
But now...
Pieces of the original story were beginning to move.
The Crown Prince had suddenly left for the southern province.
The imperial clan had been summoned to the capital.
Her father and elder brother were spending more and more time in court.
Her second brother was far away with the Grand Protector.
And Shen Yuerou had returned from Jiangnan.
Too many things were happening at once.
Shen Xuan’s face paled slightly.
"No."
"No, no, no."
"Don’t tell me..."
"The plot is starting again?"
She looked at her sister.
For the first time in years, the thought of the original novel’s ending genuinely frightened her.
"My peaceful salted-fish life..."
"Is it really coming to an end?"