The next day, Shen Xi went to pay her respects to her parents.
Adjusting the pale green silk shawl draped over her shoulders, she stepped forward with a smile and curtsied: “Father, Mother—good morning.”
No sooner had she spoken than her mother’s gentle voice drifted from the corridor as she instructed her personal maid: “Fetch that pair of red gold bracelets inlaid with rubies from the east chamber—they’ll complement Xi’er’s crimson silk dress perfectly.”
Shen Xi looked at her in surprise: “Mother—what’s this about?”
Her mother turned with a smile, the golden hairpin swaying gently with her movement as she pressed a palace invitation into Shen Xi’s hands: “Mo’er told us you’re feeling better, and we just received this invitation to the Spring Banquet. This year is different from past years—the banquet will be held at the imperial villa, with not just flower-viewing but also a hunting ground. All the young masters and ladies from noble families will be there, so you should dress appropriately. That crimson dress of yours is made from cloud brocade sent by the Jiangnan Weaving Bureau last year; paired with these jade bracelets, you’ll surely stand out.”
Shen Xi looked at the invitation, her fingertips brushing over the interlaced branch patterns along its edge. The words “Spring Banquet” were written in cinnabar on gold-flecked paper, with peach blossoms embroidered in gold thread beside them—its surface smooth and warm to the touch.
She had not expected the invitation to arrive so coincidentally.
At this moment, her father looked up from his desk, holding a newly carved jade pendant in his hand. The jade was clear and translucent, shaped into a bird holding a sprig of flowers in its beak: “The physician came to check your pulse yesterday and said you’re fully recovered. It’ll do you good to go out and get some sun.” He handed the pendant to her. “It’ll balance out the boldness of your crimson dress when paired with your pale green shawl.”
(Note: In ancient China, jade was highly valued not only for its beauty but also for its symbolic meaning of purity, protection, and virtue. Cloud brocade from Jiangnan was a luxury fabric known for its intricate patterns and rich texture, often used for formal attire.)
Shen Xi took it with a smile: “Thank you, Father. No one dotes on me as much as you both do.”
Just as she spoke, the maid returned carrying a brocade box. When opened, the red jade bracelets caught the morning light, scattering tiny sparkles that tinged her fingertips with warm red.
She reached out to take them, but her mother picked them up first, gently sliding one onto her wrist. The gold was cool against her skin, yet the gemstones seemed to hold warmth, chiming softly as she moved her hand.
These red gold and ruby bracelets were a rare treasure her mother had mentioned in passing on her birthday—Shen Xi had thought nothing of it at the time, never imagining her mother had remembered all along. And her father’s jade pendant—the stone looked like aged material from his personal collection, and the craftsmanship was clearly painstaking. The bird holding a sprig seemed like a thoughtful touch, meant to soften the vibrancy of her crimson dress.
In her past life, she had accidentally lost this very pendant. Like her family, it had become a memory she could never retrieve.
“Xi’er? What are you thinking about?” Her mother noticed her distraction and adjusted her shawl.
Shen Xi snapped back to attention, forcing down the flood of memories.
The bracelet on her wrist chimed softly, its clear sound like a wake-up call to her muddled past.
Looking into her mother’s concerned eyes, she curved her lips into an obedient smile: “I was just thinking how good your taste is, Mother—these bracelets will look wonderful with the crimson dress.”
Now that she had been given a second chance, and with the Spring Banquet approaching, she would never allow the tragedy of the Shen family’s blood and tears to repeat itself.
She would protect the Shen family with all her might—no one would be allowed to harm them again.
“Silly child,” her mother laughed, tidying her hair. “Rest well these next few days, and ask your brother to accompany you when the time comes.”
No sooner had she finished than Shen Mo’s voice rang out from outside the courtyard: “Father, Mother—how can you be so biased? I just traveled all the way back from the border fortress, and I never get treated like this!”
“You rascal!” her father chided without turning his head. “Xi’er is a young lady—what are you, a grown man, fussing about?”
Shen Mo leaned close to Shen Xi, sniffing the air: “Wow—those jade bracelets are dazzling! Isn’t this a bit too much favoritism? I ate hardtack for three months at the border, and I don’t even get a bowl of hot soup when I come home!”
Shen Xi kicked him lightly: “You’re being cheeky the moment you’re back. You have to go to the Spring Banquet with me—I’ll lend you my horse ‘Treading Snow’—it’s far finer than anyone else’s.”
Shen Mo’s eyes lit up: “Really?”
Shen Mo had coveted Treading Snow for ages, but Shen Xi had always refused to lend it to him, claiming it was her beloved steed and would grow distant if others rode it—in truth, she just did not want to part with it.
“Of course it’s true,” Shen Xi replied.
Shen Mo beamed and reached out to ruffle her hair, but she ducked away, and he instead flicked her nose: “You little ingrate—finally willing to lend me your precious Treading Snow? When I asked before, you said it only recognized you and would buck anyone else off.”
“Who else would I lend it to but my brother? Besides, Treading Snow understands people—it’ll be obedient when you ride it.”
“That’s not what you said before!”
“Things were different then!”
Shen Mo laughed aloud: “Hey—how can you change your mind so quickly? Aren’t you afraid I’ll look more impressive riding Treading Snow than you do?”
“But Brother—you have to promise me one thing first,” Shen Xi said suddenly.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow: “Name it. I’d walk through fire and water to ride Treading Snow.”
Shen Xi looked directly into his eyes, her voice steady and clear: “You can’t stay too far from me at the Spring Banquet. If anyone asks you to go somewhere secluded, you have to tell me first.”
Shen Mo was momentarily stunned: “What? Afraid someone’ll kidnap your brother? Don’t worry—I’ve met all kinds of people in my years, I won’t let myself be taken advantage of.”
“I don’t care—just promise me,” Shen Xi said, lifting her chin slightly with an unyielding stubbornness in her tone.
She remembered how, in her past life, someone had invited Shen Mo to see a “rare white fox” deep in the woods, setting a trap that injured him. This had given Yunxiao the chance to come to their rescue, allowing him to gain the Shen family’s trust.
Seeing how serious she was, Shen Mo surrendered with a sigh: “Fine, fine—I’ll listen to you. I’ll stick to you like glue, how’s that?”
Shen Xi finally relaxed, the stubbornness softening in her eyes, though she still added: “If you don’t listen, I’ll take Treading Snow back.”
“Got it, your highness—I haven’t even ridden it yet!”
“The two of you—bickering the moment you’re together,” her father said, looking up from his desk. Though his voice was deliberately stern, his eyes crinkled with amusement as he watched the siblings. “Mo’er just got back, covered in dust, and he’s already being cheeky with your sister. And Xi’er—you’re a young lady now, yet you still act like a spoiled child with your brother.”
Shen Mo scratched his head, pulling something wrapped in oil paper from his chest. He held it out to his father like a treasure: “Father—these are special apricot candies from the border fortress. Try one—the little troublemaker loved these when she was young.”
Shen Xi shot him a glance, but her lips curved upward despite herself: “Who loved them as a child? That was just you being greedy.”
Her father picked up half an apricot candy and tasted it: “These are moister than last year’s. How are things at the border?”
Shen Mo straightened his back, his voice growing more serious: “We’ve had plenty of rain this year, so the autumn harvest should be good.” He unconsciously rubbed the frayed edge of his sleeve, glancing at his father before continuing: “The northern border is still unsettled, but the trade markets set up by the court are stable enough. Last month, though, a band of horse bandits robbed a westbound caravan. Now there are more guards posted on the official roads—even night caravans have to travel in groups with lanterns.”
Her father set the remaining apricot candy on a plate, sipping from his teacup as steam rose to his brow: “More patrols will help merchants feel safer.”
Shen Xi was popping an apricot candy into her mouth when she looked up suddenly: “Bandits only pick on the weak—didn’t the caravan you led come back safely?”
“Of course—your brother’s that good!” Shen Mo said proudly, chin held high.
Before he could finish, Shen Xi turned and walked toward the door: “I’m going to check if Treading Snow’s saddle is worn—so the stable hand can fix it early tomorrow.”
The bronze bells hanging under the corridor tinkled softly in the wind, as if hiding the unspoken words in its breeze.
Those bandits had clearly been targeting someone in that caravan.