Everyone in the mansion knew that the newly arrived Miss Wen, the cousin from the Wen family, was the Laotaifei’s most cherished favorite.
When the cousin fell unconscious, the mistress personally attended to her without even changing her clothes. After she woke up, the mistress even assigned her most trusted Mama Du to care for her.
The mistress herself would frequently visit to keep her company, protecting her like the apple of her eye. It was clear she cherished her even more than her own granddaughter.
Whenever Miss Wen was mentioned, everyone was filled with envy. No one dared to neglect her, and she was served with the same respect as the legitimate masters of the mansion.
However, the cousin had been ill for over half a month and had mostly stayed in her courtyard, so few had seen her. Rumors spread that she was as beautiful as a celestial being, and those who hadn’t seen her grew even more curious.
Ah Bing had seen this cousin before. Although it was only a distant glance, it was enough to leave him in awe. At the very least, the claim of her being as beautiful as a celestial being was no exaggeration—she was truly an immortal beauty.
But his master didn’t seem to take a liking to this stunningly beautiful cousin. He hadn’t visited her even once since her injury.
Today, when he suddenly said he wanted to see her, Ah Bing was naturally very surprised. Had his master changed his ways?
After returning to the mansion, Shen Jue changed out of his riding attire and into a comfortable long robe, though the color remained as fiery red as ever.
Leaving his courtyard, he headed straight for the garden, leaving Ah Bing momentarily stunned.
“Master, where are we going?”
Didn’t he say he was going to see the cousin? The cousin lived in the Laotaifei’s courtyard, which was in the completely opposite direction.
Shen Jue curled the corner of his lips. “When visiting someone, one naturally has to prepare a gift.”
With that, he ignored Ah Bing and continued walking ahead. Ah Bing stared blankly at the osmanthus cake in his hand. A gift? Then what was this in his hand supposed to be!
After lying in bed for over half a month, Wen Jinxin was finally feeling much better. The physician had visited again at noon and said she was fine and could move around more.
After meeting Shen Shaoyuan today, she began to have other thoughts. Since her relationship with Shen Shaoyuan could change, perhaps many other things could also be prepared for in advance?
After a short nap, she was helped by Lan Hui and Cai Zhu to take a stroll in the garden.
This was, in fact, her first time walking around the Prince’s mansion since her rebirth. Every flower and blade of grass felt like scenes from a dream, making her eyes grow warm with emotion and filling her with a deep sense of gratitude.
Along the way, they encountered Mama Zhou, who served Li Shi, on her way to fetch Li Shi’s new summer clothes. From a distance, Mama Zhou spotted Wen Jinxin and greeted her respectfully.
“This servant pays her respects to Miss Wen.”
“Hello, Mama Zhou,” Wen Jinxin replied politely but distantly. This Mama Zhou was Li Shi’s personal maid, brought with her upon marriage, and was the most trusted person by her side.
“Our mistress often speaks of you, Miss. If not for the many affairs in the mansion, she would surely be taking care of you personally every day.”
“I am deeply grateful for Aunt’s tireless care when I was unwell. I am much better now, and with the mansion so busy, I dare not trouble Aunt further. Please convey my regards to Aunt and remind her to take more rest.”
Wen Jinxin offered a faint smile, responding to Mama Zhou’s words with grace and propriety.
Li Shi had taken care of Wen Jinxin for one night. The next day, after Wen Jinxin regained consciousness, she thanked Li Shi and firmly insisted that she return to rest.
She remembered from her previous life that when she first arrived at the mansion, Li Shi had also taken care of her and grown close to her. At that time, she knew nothing and trusted everything Li Shi said.
Even the negative impressions she initially had of Shen Jue were influenced by her. Although she couldn’t easily draw conclusions about the matters between Li Shi and Shen Jue, she had already become wary of Li Shi. In this lifetime, aside from feeling gratitude, she didn’t feel particularly close to her.
The servants passing by couldn’t help but steal glances at Wen Jinxin, then followed with respectful bows.
So this was the legendary cousin—truly living up to her reputation, a beauty like a celestial maiden.
No wonder Laotaifei cherished her like a treasure in the palm of her hand. Who wouldn’t feel a twinge of pity upon seeing such a delicate jade-like figure?
Mama Zhou, hearing Wen Jinxin’s response, couldn’t help but glance at her. Previously, she only knew this cousin was no ordinary person, but now she saw that she truly possessed an extraordinary demeanor and was not someone easily fooled.
She set aside her earlier slight disdain and cautiously exchanged a few words, eager to learn more about Wen Jinxin’s background. It wasn’t until a maid beside her urged her that she hurried off to fetch summer clothes for Li Shi.
Cai Zhu provided detailed introductions by her side, while Wen Jinxin wore a faint smile throughout. No one here was more familiar with this place than she was.
The garden of the Prince’s mansion was vast, with a spring-fed pond dug out and filled with lotus flowers. Every midsummer was its most beautiful season.
Wen Jinxin had always loved this garden. After Laotaifei learned of this, she even had a small pavilion built for her, surrounded by wisteria.
In her previous life, she had loved sitting in the pavilion to admire the flowers in spring and enjoy the cool breeze in summer. Unfortunately, the pavilion naturally didn’t exist yet at this time. Gazing at the pond filled with lotus leaves and the empty banks, her heart was filled with emotion.
After walking for over half an hour, Wen Jinxin grew somewhat tired and sat down to rest in a small pavilion. As she looked around, she noticed several servants surrounding a tall young woman walking through a round side gate.
Wen Jinxin found the figure somewhat familiar and couldn’t help but ask, “Cai Zhu, do you know who that is?”
Cai Zhu, never one to miss an opportunity to show off, followed Wen Jinxin’s gaze and immediately recognized the person.
“Replying to Cousin, that is Miss Ye Shujun. Her father is the Prince’s military advisor, and they live near the Prince’s mansion. Miss Ye is around the same age as our young lady and often studies and writes with her. They are very close.”
Wen Jinxin nodded. Indeed, she vaguely remembered such a person, but in her previous life, she hadn’t been particularly close to Shen Shaoyuan, let alone having any interaction with this Miss Ye.
Perhaps it was her imagination, but just before they stepped through the round gate, Ye Shujun seemed to glance back in her direction.
In that instant, Wen Jinxin thought she saw the look in her eyes clearly.
It carried a sense of probing and wariness, even a hint of unfriendly hostility. As if realizing Wen Jinxin was watching, Ye Shujun quickly averted her gaze, and her figure disappeared into the round gate.
Yet Wen Jinxin continued to stare in the direction she had left, lost in thought, until Lan Hui called out, “Young lady,” snapping her back to reality.
Although the physician had declared her fully recovered, Lan Hui, looking at her frail figure, remained deeply concerned.
“Young lady, are you tired from sitting? Let me help you back to rest.”
Wen Jinxin slowly nodded. “Let’s go back.”
Though she said she was returning, as she stood up, she cast another glance in the direction Ye Shujun had left.
She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but she felt that Ye Shujun’s gaze seemed strangely familiar, and even her name now sounded oddly recognizable.
In their previous lives, the two of them should have had no interaction at all. When exactly did she leave such an impression on him…
Unable to recall, Wen Jinxin could only set this person aside for now and returned to her courtyard.
Past the rockery was a small pebble path, flanked by bamboo groves that exuded an elegant charm.
Cai Zhu had gone to fetch medicine for Wen Jinxin, so Lan Hui accompanied her back.
“The Prince’s mansion is truly beautiful and grand. You should take more walks and bask in the sun, Miss. Your complexion looks much better already.” Lan Hui spoke with genuine concern, and Wen Jinxin nodded with a smile.
“I’ll listen to you. We’ll come for another stroll tomorrow.”
Seeing Wen Jinxin agree with her, Lan Hui’s eyes sparkled as she smiled brightly.
Lan Hui was still young, and Wen Jinxin remembered her as a lively girl who loved to laugh and talk. But after the Wen family’s misfortune, she had shouldered the responsibility of caring for Wen Jinxin with quiet determination.
Not only had she become cautious, but she also spoke less, and her smiles had become rare.
In her past life, Wen Jinxin had been consumed by grief over the loss of her parents, weeping day after day, and had never paid attention to such details. It was only after being reborn that she realized how much those around her had endured.
And precisely because she understood their struggles, she cherished this opportunity even more…
Just as Wen Jinxin was thinking this, she heard a rustling sound from the grass. She turned to look but saw nothing.
She could only assume she was being overly sensitive and took a few more steps forward with Lan Hui when the rustling sound returned.
Wen Jinxin stopped and looked back again, but there was still nothing.
“Lan Hui, did you hear something?” This was a small path from the garden to Fuxi Hall, and there was no one around.
Lan Hui looked around curiously. “I didn’t hear anything, Miss. Could it be the wind?”
Wen Jinxin nodded hesitantly, finally attributing it to her imagination. “Perhaps I misheard. Let’s hurry back.”
No sooner had she spoken than a dark shadow darted out from the grass and bamboo grove, blocking their path.
Wen Jinxin was startled, and Lan Hui nearly jumped in fright at the sight of the massive creature. Only then did the two of them see what was blocking their way.
It was a pitch-black mastiff, standing nearly half a person’s height. Its dark fur gleamed menacingly in the sunlight, and it emitted low, raspy growls from time to time.
At that moment, it was tearing at something, its eyes bloodshot and terrifying to behold.
Lan Hui had never seen such a ferocious mastiff before. Her legs had already gone weak with fear, and she covered her mouth to keep her terrified cries from escaping.
Wen Jinxin, meanwhile, stood frozen, her face pale as a sheet. She was so panicked she could hardly find her tongue.
Forcing herself to calm down, Wen Jinxin reasoned that such a massive creature couldn’t have appeared out of nowhere in the Prince’s mansion—it must belong to someone.
As for who could keep such a fierce mastiff, the answer was obvious: aside from Shen Jue, there was no one else.
Moreover, she remembered that Shen Jue loved hunting and kept several hounds in the mansion. The most famous among them was a black mastiff, which Shen Jue had named General.
Summoning her courage, Wen Jinxin stole a few glances at the mastiff before her. This was likely the majestic General.
Somehow, her earlier fear began to fade. It seemed that merely knowing this mastiff belonged to Shen Jue brought her a sense of reassurance.
While Wen Jinxin was lost in thought, the General had already finished tearing apart the object on the ground. Only then did the two of them clearly see that it was a cloth ball—likely a small toy used to play with it.
By now, it had been shredded to pieces, with strips of cloth and cotton fluff scattered everywhere.
What frightened Lan Hui the most was that after tearing the object apart, the General began searching for its next “toy.”
Its large, blood-red eyes quickly locked onto the two of them. Wagging its tail as if surveying its own territory, it began advancing toward them step by step.
“Miss…” Lan Hui tightly gripped Wen Jinxin’s arm, already shielding her behind her.
“This servant will block it. Miss, run and find help!”
No sooner had she spoken than the black mastiff suddenly accelerated, lunging toward them…