Chарtеr 25: А Sight Тhat Tugs at thе Нeart аnd Stirs the Soul
Shеn Мingshu wаs mоmеntаrily stunnеd, hеr thrоаt tightening.
Hаd he been herе аll alоng?
Fооtstерs aррrоachеd frоm outsidе, followed bу the sоund of the doоr being рushed орen.
Chun Хing, seeing Shen Мingshu with hеr еуes oреn, immеdiаtely brеathеd a sigh of rеlief. “Miss, уou’re finаlly awakе.”
Shе hurriеd to thе bеdside, her voiсe fillеd with еxcitеment. “Miss, уour jаdе рendаnt is back!”
Fоr a momеnt, Shеn Мingshu thought she had misheard. Following Chun Хing’s gеsture, she lookеd оver.
The whitе jаde was smooth and warm, with a faint, flowing luster—exactly the one she had worn close to her since childhood.
But hadn’t this pendant been given to Mr. Zhang?
Almost instantly, she turned her gaze to Jiang Xun, who had already opened his eyes. Their eyes met.
Shen Mingshu blinked, her eyes shimmering with a radiant glow, and asked eagerly, “Brother, did you help me get it back?”
Jiang Xun looked at her, his voice low. “Yes.”
Almost immediately, Shen Mingshu’s eyes reddened. “Thank you, Brother. You’re the best brother in the world!”
Her voice was soft and sweet, yet tears welled in her eyes.
A sight that tugged at the heart and stirred the soul.
Jiang Xun couldn’t help but wonder why she cried so easily.
She cried when she was happy, and she cried when she was unhappy.
But whenever she cried, he was utterly helpless.
And there was no need for thanks.
He was willing to do anything for her…
Jiang Xun’s gaze lingered on her face, wanting to look at her a little longer. Yet, after a few moments, he forced himself to turn away and instructed Qing He, “Go and fetch Dr. Meng.”
Chengwen Academy, in the afternoon. A cool breeze rustled the wind chimes hanging from the eaves, producing a gentle, tinkling sound.
During the break, Xiao Zheng leaned against a corridor pillar. Qi Yu approached and whispered, “I found out. Shen Mingshu really hasn’t been at the academy these past two days. I heard she’s ill.”
“Ill again?” Xiao Zheng’s brows furrowed even tighter.
Qi Yu nodded, somewhat puzzled. “I don’t know what’s going on. She’s been sick twice recently. She wasn’t this frail before.”
Xiao Zheng pursed his lips in thought.
Perhaps she fell ill from exhaustion while making clothes for him.
As soon as this thought surfaced, Xiao Zheng’s chest warmed.
He grew even more eager to see that garment.
“I have something to attend to. I’m leaving.”
“Huh?” Qi Yu was taken aback. “You’re skipping class?”
“It’s urgent. Please ask the teacher for leave on my behalf.” Without looking back, Xiao Zheng strode out, his steps swift.
A short while later, Xiao Zheng rode out of the academy, heading straight for Jinchun Workshop.
Jinchun Workshop.
The shopkeeper had already spotted the figure in the fluttering blue robe outside the door.
The visitor rode a tall horse, his posture as straight and proud as a pine tree. He exuded an air of bold and untamed youth, his eyes dark, bright, and sharp. A single glance from him made others hesitant to meet his gaze.
The shopkeeper’s heart raced, and he quickly put on a flattering smile. “Ah, General Xiao! What brings you here in person?”
He had already made inquiries.
This was none other than the eldest son of the Xiao family, the future Marquis of Anding, the renowned young general with boundless prospects!
Xiao Zheng got straight to the point. “I’m here to see the fabric that the second young lady of the Shen family purchased the other day.”
The shopkeeper was momentarily taken aback, then forced a smile. “Those bolts of fabric were indeed of the finest quality, and their colors and patterns were truly unique. However, they’ve already been taken by that young lady from the Shen family.”
Xiao Zheng gave him a cold look. “Is that so? Are you certain?”
The shopkeeper hurriedly wiped the cold sweat from his brow and lowered his voice. “To be honest, we still have pattern books and samples. I’ll fetch them right away. Please wait a moment!”He swiftly turned around and returned moments later with a pattern book, presenting it respectfully with both hands.
Xiao Zheng sat in the main seat, opening the booklet and flipping through the pages one by one.
His distinct, bony fingers rested on the patterns, his posture both lazy and arrogant. Suddenly, he tapped one of them.
“This one looks good.” He turned another page and frowned. “This one is too flashy, not good.”
“This pattern is too fragmented.”
“This color is passable.”
The shopkeeper stood rigidly beside him, not daring to breathe loudly, his back stiff with tension.
While Xiao Zheng casually picked out patterns, a faint smile had already surfaced in his eyes.
Shen Mingshu’s taste was indeed excellent. Among these fabrics, there were only one or two he disliked—the rest, he quite liked.
In the past, Shen Mingshu had only made winter clothes for him, never summer attire. He wondered what it would look like.
In the Shen residence, the scent of medicine still lingered in Little Round Studio.
Shen Mingshu held an empty medicine bowl in her hands. The bitterness of the decoction she had just drunk remained on the tip of her tongue, making her scrunch her face in discomfort. She quickly popped a preserved plum into her mouth.
Xiao Tang brought over some food—light porridge and simple side dishes, just right for recuperation during illness.
Chun Xing whispered with emotion, “It really is that jade pendant protecting you, Miss. Ever since the pendant returned, your illness has improved greatly, and your complexion looks much better than a few days ago.”
Shen Mingshu asked softly, “Did my brother go to retrieve the pendant himself?”
Xiao Tang nodded.
“Did he go to Jiangnan?”
“No,” Xiao Tang shook her head. “It was Yecheng. Mr. Zhang’s family happened to be there these past few days. Lord Jiang left early on the eighteenth and returned first thing on the nineteenth.”
He had traveled through the night.
And last night, he had stayed by her side, likely not getting much rest either.
Shen Mingshu’s eyelashes trembled slightly, a dense ache welling up in her heart.
Jiang Xun was truly too good to her.
She must be very good to him too!
Shen Mingshu stood up, walked to the table, pushed up her sleeves, and sat down.
The fabric was already spread out on the table, with needles and thread neatly arranged to the side.
Seeing this, Xiao Tang hurried forward and gently advised, “Miss, you’ve only just started feeling better. You should rest a bit more. Overexerting yourself could lead to harm.”
Shen Mingshu shook her head. “It’s fine. The fourth and fifth pieces only need the cuffs finished. I can complete them today.”
As she spoke, she picked up an embroidery needle and continued threading and stitching.
Early in the morning, a thin mist still lingered outside Listening-to-Pines Pavilion.
Qing He was in the courtyard instructing someone to trim the flower branches when he glanced over and noticed a figure appear at the courtyard gate.
A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. “Second Miss? Why have you come so early? His Lordship has only just risen.”
“I’ve come to deliver something,” Shen Mingshu said with a faint smile.
Chun Xing and Xiao Tang stepped forward from behind her, each holding a wooden tray. On the trays were neatly folded garments in steady, dignified colors, clearly intended for a man.
Qing He’s eyes widened instinctively.
Clothes!
And delivered personally by the Second Miss?