After several consecutive days of snow, it finally stopped. Though the snowfall hadn't been heavy, the days of accumulation had still laid a white blanket over the ground.
The servants of the Marquis Rong'an household had risen early to clear the snow from the paths the main family would walk. The air was bitingly cold—taking a deep breath felt like inhaling ice into one's very lungs.
There was no wind today, and as the sun slowly climbed higher, the temperature rose as well. Two gatekeeping nannies sat on the stone steps before the courtyard gate, hands tucked into their sleeves, basking in the sun and exchanging gossip.
"So the Second Young Master will be living in that courtyard from now on?" Nanny Chen quietly gestured with her chin toward the eastern compound.
Nanny Li let out a cold "heh heh" at this. "Isn't that so? That boy reads lazily, cowers and shrinks from everything, can't hold himself up in polite company, and has sticky fingers to boot. Then suddenly he throws a fit and threatens to jump in the water to scare people—what's the point of keeping him around? Raise a child, raise an enemy, as they say."
Nanny Chen let out an "Aiyo" and slapped her thigh. "Isn't that the truth! He took the Eldest Young Master's jade and talked back to the Madam—and that Concubine Xu, the airs she put on! When Nanny Qian told me about it, I was furious just listening. People say a cowardly father makes a cowardly son, and a cowardly mother makes a whole nest of them. Look at those three born in the eastern compound—is there a single one worth anything?"
The two gatekeeping nannies were trading words back and forth about the household's latest big news when they suddenly spotted a familiar figure approaching. Squinting to get a better look—wasn't that the very subject of their gossip, the Second Young Master himself!
The two hastily grabbed the doorframe to stand up, brushed the dust off their backsides, and stepped forward to greet Shen Jianglin.
"We pay our respects to the Second Young Master. Has the Second Young Master fully recovered?"
Shen Jianglin raised his delicate, jade-carved little face and said with a beaming smile, "Nanny Chen, Nanny Li, I've come to see Eldest Brother. May I go in?"
The two nannies exchanged a glance—the Second Young Master had never once come calling of his own accord before. Had the sun started rising from the west today?
But even if the Eldest Young Master sometimes grew impatient with this younger half-brother of his, he had never shown it openly.
And even now that the boy had been moved out of the main courtyard, he was still the household's legitimate Second Young Master. Though born of a concubine, sons were precious in this household—there were only two boys in total. How could coarse gatekeeping nannies like them dare to trifle with him?
Besides, who knew—perhaps today the Second Young Master had come to beg the Eldest Young Master, offer his apologies, and shamelessly wheedle his way back into the main courtyard.
After all, staying with a concubine—what could the food, clothing, and daily allowances compare to what one enjoyed in the legitimate mother's main courtyard?
The two nannies stepped aside, and Shen Jianglin crossed the threshold. The first thing that met his eyes was a horizontal plaque reading "Pine Grove Study," the calligraphy bold and forceful, seemingly the work of a master hand. After rounding the carved screen wall depicting cranes among pine trees, he saw a broad paved path leading straight to the main hall, flanked by a couplet that read: "Where laughter and talk flow with learned scholars; no common folk pass through these doors."
Shen Jianglin lowered his gaze in brief contemplation. It seemed this father of his—whose face was but a blur in his memory—held rather high expectations for his eldest legitimate son. A study named after a grove, hopes that the boy would converse with learned scholars—to say the man had placed great hopes on him would hardly be an overstatement.
Shen Jianglin recalled that he himself had previously lived in a small courtyard on the western side of the main compound. In winter, it barely caught any sunlight and was rather damp and cold—and it certainly bore no plaques or couplets.
A cursory glance at the layout of the courtyard made the relative importance of each clear at once.
It seemed that in this era, even among sons, the status gap between those born of the legitimate wife and those born of concubines was enormous.
Nanny Chen led the way beside him, unaware of Shen Jianglin's brief moment of distraction: "Second Young Master, the Eldest Young Master is studying in the study."
Today was the fifth day of the New Year. The school would not reopen for lessons until after the fifteenth, and when Nanny Chen mentioned that her own Eldest Young Master was studying in the study, her face wore a look of shared pride—just look, our Eldest Young Master, still diligent even during the great holiday.
Nanny Chen walked to the window and announced them. From inside came Shen Jiangyun's clear, youthful voice: "Come in."
Shen Jianglin lifted the felt curtain himself. At the first touch, it felt fine and smooth; the felt had been covered with a layer of dense silk cloth, embroidered with several stalks of green bamboo. It was not only practical for blocking the wind, but also beautiful and elegant.
Once inside, he felt even more that indoors and outdoors were two different temperatures.
Outside was the bitter cold of the depths of winter; inside was the warmth of spring.
He saw that a charcoal brazier had been placed in each of the four corners of the study. Some plain incense had likely been added to the braziers, and there was a faint, pleasant scent as fresh as pine and cypress. This charcoal was smokeless and must have been fine silver-frost charcoal.
Shen Jiangyun sat behind the writing desk. Behind him were three rows of large bookshelves, densely packed with books. To his left was a curio shelf, on which were displayed several antique ornaments. Below the curio shelf was a small table, on which sat a Slender-Waist Beauty Pot, with a branch of red plum inserted into it, setting off the porcelain-white beauty pot beautifully.
On the blank spaces of the four walls hung several paintings and calligraphy by famous masters, full of distinctive charm.
Beneath the straight-latticed window on the south side stood a row of six round-backed armchairs, clearly for receiving guests.
Shen Jiangyun told Shen Jianglin to sit, then called a maid to pour tea. Seeing that Shen Jianglin's hands were empty and that the fingers exposed beyond his sleeves were somewhat red, he simply stuffed the hand warmer he had set aside because he found it too hot into Shen Jianglin's hands. Then he sat back down in the host's seat and asked, "Weren't you in poor health? Why have you come at this time?"
He had jumped into the water on the first day of the New Year and had reportedly caught a chill. Only after two strong doses of medicine had he been pulled back. If he was not resting properly, what was he up to now?
Although Shen Jianglin had received the original body's memories, people he had never seen still appeared somewhat blurry to him. He could know who someone was the moment he saw them, but given only a name, the facial features were hazy.
Still, whether from descriptions in the book or from the original body's memories, this legitimate eldest brother's appearance was extraordinary.
Yet when he saw the real person, Shen Jianglin realized that "extraordinary" was far from enough to describe him.
A noble gentleman, outstanding and uncommon, his bearing and appearance were the finest Shen Jianglin had seen in either this life or his previous one.
Even though he was only fifteen now, his height already exceeded seven chi. He was tall and slender, his features as if carved from jade, crafted with uncanny skill, and with the bearing cultivated amid wealth and honor, every gesture and movement was enough to dazzle the eyes and bewitch the mind.
Compared with Shen Jiangyun, all the elegant young gentlemen in the many costume dramas Shen Jianglin had watched in modern times could only pale by comparison.
This astonished Shen Jianglin, and at the same time made him vaguely understand why Zhao Anning harbored such stubborn hatred.
Food and beauty are human nature, and likely know no distinction between men and women.
Shen Jianglin's thick eyelashes concealed this flicker of surprise as he cupped his hands in greeting. "Elder Brother, I've come today to offer you my apologies…"
Before Shen Jianglin could finish, Shen Jiangyun waved a hand and rose to his feet. From the curio shelf, he withdrew a lacquered box and handed it to Shen Jianglin. "Lin'er, since you like this, you may as well take it to play with. In the future, if there's anything you fancy, just say the word to me. These are merely trinkets—compared to your life, they're not worth a fraction."
Inside the sandalwood lacquered box, cushioned by velvet, lay the very white mutton-fat jade pendant that had sparked the dispute. The carving was exquisite—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone all rendered upon it, lifelike in their detail, bearing excellent auspicious meaning.
Clearly, Shen Jiangyun had already prepared this pendant to give away, for otherwise he would not have kept it stored in a lacquered box rather than wearing it on his person.
Shen Jiangyun was generous and magnanimous—after his appearance, this was the second thing that gave Shen Jianglin pause.
In the book, Shen Jiangyun was described as handsome in appearance alone—an empty vessel who failed at the Keju examinations, spent his days carousing in pleasure quarters, and brought disappointment to his father and sighs from his mother. He was the quintessential playboy in the eyes of the world. Yet the real Shen Jiangyun standing before him differed considerably from his literary portrayal.
Shen Jianglin did not take the lacquered box. Instead, he looked up and smiled at Shen Jiangyun. "Elder Brother, my apology is actually a request—to borrow a person from you, so that I may clear my name before Mother."
Through his predecessor's memories, Shen Jianglin naturally knew whether he had actually stolen that pendant or not. He was unwilling to bear the accusation of theft without cause. Nor was he a true ten-year-old child who would merely insist "I didn't steal it"—he had his own calculations.
Shen Jiangyun had originally been rather disinclined to deal with this younger half-brother. In ordinary times, the boy would hide from him at the mere sight, shoulders hunched and back bowed, completely lacking in bearing. On the rare occasions when they exchanged a few words, the lad proved stubborn and rigid in his thinking, which made Shen Jiangyun all the less inclined to speak with him at length.
Today, however, the boy had unexpectedly sought him out—and even asked to borrow someone to clear his name. This made Shen Jiangyun begin to regard Shen Jianglin with genuine attention.
There sat Shen Jianglin, a small figure in a wide armchair. His back was not ramrod straight, but neither did it slump as it once had. He carried himself with a certain ease. Short in stature, his feet did not quite reach the ground, yet he sat steady and still, without swaying.
He wore a set of crimson brocade arrow-sleeved robes made new for the New Year, and a jade Longevity Lock hung around his neck. His features, not yet fully matured, were androgynous in their beauty. His skin was fair to the point of translucence, as if carved from finest jade and powdered with porcelain. Long brows, round eyes, a delicate nose, and small lips—every feature refined, every feature endearing.
"So this younger half-brother has grown rather handsome," Shen Jiangyun thought to himself. Then, reflecting that he himself was often praised for his looks, he concluded it was only fitting—they were, after all, members of the Shen family.
In spite of himself, Shen Jiangyun found he had gained some patience for Shen Jianglin. "Oh? Whom do you wish to borrow? And what injustice do you speak of?"
Shen Jianglin had come precisely to probe Shen Jiangyun's depths—to take his measure.
The one who currently held authority over the inner court was Madam Wei. It would be best to state this matter plainly before her, but the affair had stirred such a commotion at the time that Madam Wei would likely now avoid him at all costs.
Moreover, Madam Wei's negative impression was already firmly set. Adults of their age found it very difficult to overturn their own prejudices, so it was better to find someone younger who carried weight in their words to test the waters first.
This was the true purpose behind Shen Jianglin's visit to pay respects to his elder legitimate brother today.
"Elder Brother, actually, when I argued with Mother that day, it was indeed my blunt speech that angered her. But throughout it all, there was one thing I never lied about—I have never once taken anything of yours without permission. I wonder if you believe me or not?"
When Shen Jianglin said this, he asked with a smile, without being aggressive. His small face, when smiling, bloomed as brilliantly as spring flowers, making it hard for Shen Jiangyun to utter the words "I don't believe you."
But before Shen Jiangyun could respond, Shen Jianglin continued in a measured tone: "Of course, when the authorities hear a case, they require both witness testimony and physical evidence. Now that the physical evidence was found in my room, it's only natural to be suspected. However, to convict me with only physical evidence and no witnesses—surely even the authorities would not consider that a valid case, would they?"
Shen Jianglin's words instantly shifted Shen Jiangyun's previously casual demeanor. He was now studying with his tutor, already learning imperial edicts, judgments, memorials, and proclamations. He knew that when authorities heard cases, they had to investigate from multiple angles—having both witness testimony and physical evidence was the most basic requirement. Only after verifying everything one by one could a person be convicted according to the law.
But hearing these words spoken methodically by a ten-year-old child was truly surprising to him.
Yet this wasn't the end. Shen Jianglin continued:
"Elder Brother, you may not know this. When Mother and I were arguing without resolution, I was too heartbroken, feeling that Mother didn't trust my character. Later, after I returned, although I was burning with fever, my mind kept dwelling on this matter. After thinking it over and over, I finally figured out some key points: that morning I wasn't in my room, and the maidservant and page boy who usually guarded the door had mischievously slipped out to play. Later, I heard that Mother had sent someone to distribute New Year gifts to each household."
At this point, Shen Jianglin paused, then carefully observed Shen Jiangyun's expression.
"Elder Brother, our New Year gifts were received by Sister Biyue from your household. At the same time, Mother also entrusted that jade pendant to Sister Biyue. Since the pendant passed through Sister Biyue's hands, shouldn't she also be questioned?"
At these words, Shen Jiangyun's expression suddenly changed.
Biyue was the head maidservant in his household, the person he trusted most, who managed all the social interactions in his courtyard. She was meticulous and thorough in her work, never making a mistake in all these years. How could she have made such an error?
But if there was no error, and Shen Jianglin stubbornly refused to admit taking the pendant, could it be that Biyue had done it deliberately?
The words "false accusation" flashed through Shen Jiangyun's mind in an instant, and his expression grew even more grim.
Should he believe Biyue from his own household, or this younger half-brother of his?
For a moment, Shen Jiangyun found himself unable to decide.