Shen Weizhen still used the ointment sent by A Chun.
This time, it was claimed to be an accidental sting, but that was not the truth.
Most of the students studying at the academy were around their teens or twenties, each full of youthful vigor and prone to impulsive thoughts.
Even among classmates, they were divided into two factions. One faction was led by Shen Weizhen, mostly from wealthy families with ancestors who had been powerful officials or renowned generals. The other faction consisted of the children of newly risen nobles, who usually followed the lead of Zhang Jian, the fourth son of the Minister of the Left.
Occasionally, one or two children from farming and scholarly families found themselves caught in the middle, surviving cautiously.
This time, a dispute arose. A hot-headed youth from the newly risen noble faction lost a debate and, for some reason, sought out a black scorpion, hiding it in his book bag to seek revenge at an opportune moment. Unexpectedly, during class, the black scorpion escaped.
These young men had never seen such a venomous insect before and scattered in panic. Only Shen Weizhen remained calm, captured the black scorpion, and killed it. He then instructed everyone not to speak of the incident, lest the teacher find out. They were to say that the scorpion had accidentally wandered in from the mountains and that he had been stung by mistake.
Although Shen Weizhen had not yet entered officialdom, the disputes following his father’s death had taught him the ways of the world. He had long wanted to resolve the conflict between the two factions in the academy. He understood that these classmates would likely be useful in the future, so why let momentary anger strain their relationships? Moreover, avenging his father required more allies.
Everything was calculated.
Except for A Chun sending the medicine.
Shen Weizhen had not expected her to come.
His eyes were fine, but he remembered Shen Shiru’s condition—once night fell and the light dimmed, his father would struggle to see clearly. Even a familiar path could cause him to stumble. At night, when his father went to the study to check on his studies, his clothes often bore traces of dew and mud.
Tonight, with such heavy rain, she, so small and unable to see clearly, had stumbled her way here carrying a food box and ointment.
Though he knew her background, he couldn’t help but feel pity for her.
In the years since his father’s death, Shen Weizhen had experienced many things, and his mindset had changed greatly from before. As for A Chun, this sister of his, he had once wanted nothing more than to eliminate her, but later, his thoughts shifted.
How it changed, he couldn’t quite explain.
When he sent someone to bring A Chun into the Houfu, Shen Weizhen had thought of raising her like his other sisters, nurturing her for a year or two before arranging a marriage for her.
The Houfu was not short of money and could afford a generous dowry. Marital ties were more stable than other forms of connection, binding families together in prosperity and adversity. As the eldest brother, Shen Weizhen had long planned the marriages of his younger siblings, deciding which families they would marry into.
That day, he shouldn’t have passed by the lotus pond.
Shen Weizhen closed his eyes, calming his emotions and thinking rationally.
He had truly lost his mind.
This illness was not severe. The cold had long since healed, and a scorpion sting could do little harm. These days of not attending the academy were merely for show. Shen Weizhen understood Zhang Jian’s character well—he was impulsive but sincere and passionate. When Shen Weizhen told the teacher that the scorpion had wandered into the classroom from the mountains, Zhang Jian showed undisguised admiration.
Shen Weizhen needed to seize this opportunity to turn conflict into harmony.
Setting down his brush, he had finished practicing his calligraphy for the day.
Originally intending to bathe and retire for the night, he glanced up and saw the food box A Chun had sent. Remembering her eye condition, he left the study and instructed Ye Qing, “There are two boxes of Eye-Brightening Pills in the courtyard. Go fetch them and personally deliver them to the young lady.”
Ye Qing was about to leave when Shen Weizhen called him back, "What time is it now?"
"Just past Hai hour."
Since Hai hour had already passed, A Chun was likely long asleep. Moreover, what brother would send something to his sister in the middle of the night?
"Then deliver it tomorrow," Shen Weizhen said. "You should also rest early."
The next day, A Chun woke up early.
Her mother, Shen Yun'e, had a worsening cough.
Nanwuzhou was perpetually rainy, with moist air, while Jingcheng was excessively dry in comparison.
The lungs favor moisture and dislike dryness. Although there were doctors attending to her in Shenfu and money was no concern, even wealth couldn't bring rain to this courtyard.
A Chun often brewed lung-moistening soups, hoping to supplement through diet.
In Shenfu, apart from the small kitchens in the courtyards of Old Ancestor, Madam Li, and Shen Weizhen, anyone else wanting to eat something had to go to the communal main kitchen.
Having heard last night that Shen Yun'e's cough had worsened, A Chun calculated the time and rose early today to go to the kitchen and prepare soup.
Jingcheng's dietary habits differed greatly from those of Nanwuzhou, and no one knew how to make those soups. A Chun had learned a little and often made them herself.
When Helu was tasked with delivering the Eye-Brightening Pill, she found only Qiu Shuang tidying up alone and asked in surprise, "Where is the young mistress?"
Having grown up together, they were familiar, so Qiu Shuang spoke without hesitation, saying the young mistress had taken a young maid to the kitchen to stew soup.
Having served in Shen Weizhen's courtyard for ten years, Helu thought more deeply than Qiu Shuang. Upon hearing this, she didn't even set down the box and asked Qiu Shuang to accompany her to the kitchen to see the young mistress.
Qiu Shuang initially didn't understand why Helu acted this way, but as they approached the main kitchen, she gradually realized.
Two matrons were in the courtyard, chatting idly while picking vegetables.
"A distant relative seeking refuge—how does she truly think of herself as a noble young lady? Old Ancestor pities her and shows some favor, but she shouldn't put on such airs."
Another said, "Exactly. Making a soup requires so many ingredients—morel mushrooms and sea coconut. She's truly from the countryside, climbing up any pole offered. It's one thing to stew some nourishing soup, but she comes to trouble us old bones, making us search for ingredients early in the morning."
Furious, Qiu Shuang rolled up her sleeves to step forward but was stopped by Helu.
"You are the young mistress's maid. If you make a mistake now, it's the young mistress's reputation that will suffer," Helu whispered. "Let me handle this."
Qiu Shuang gritted her teeth. "These gossiping matrons—I'll tear out their tongues!!"
Helu said, "Go ahead. You'd better tear out their tongues right now—can you? What good would just scolding them do? Follow me and don't speak."
Qiu Shuang seethed with anger but knew Helu spoke the truth.
A young mistress who suddenly arrived seeking refuge, even if favored by Old Ancestor, would still face resentment from those below. Without consequences, these people wouldn't know to watch their words.
Helu's status was different. Since Shen Weizhen was not yet married, the entire Shenfu was managed by Madam Li. Shen Weizhen had a bright future and was accomplished; no one dared neglect the maids and servants in his courtyard.
She didn't cough or make a sound, naturally walking over with the box in hand. The two matrons, seeing her, were startled and stood up, one even knocking over the copper basin holding vegetables. Seeing Qiu Shuang beside her, their faces turned even paler.
"Young lady," the older one said, "does the young master have any instructions?"
"The young master's chill hasn't fully recovered, and the young miss was concerned, so she specially prepared nourishing soup," Helu said. "The young master, caring for the young miss, specifically sent me to assist her and deliver a few items."
The two matrons paled.
—Wasn't it said that Shen Yun'e had some improper relations with the late master, and the young master disliked the mother and daughter?
Helu did not scold the two matrons. She found A Chun, who was stewing the soup, solemnly handed the box containing the Eye-Brightening Pill to Qiu Shuang, and respectfully said, "The young master is distressed that the young miss has risen so early to work hard, and sent me to take over for you. Please rest, young miss. If there's anything to be done, just instruct me."
A Chun listened in confusion, only catching the words "brother cares," and smiled: "Thank you for elder brother's consideration."
After the soup was finished stewing, Helu ladled a portion, saying she would take it to the young master. Upon leaving the kitchen, she apologetically explained that she had taken the liberty of wanting to bring a portion to the young master because the soup smelled so fragrant, hoping the young miss would not mind.
A Chun naturally didn't mind.
Shen Yun'e had a small appetite and could now only drink half a bowl. With so much soup prepared, not only could a portion be given to Shen Weizhen, but even taking most of it wouldn't matter.
She didn't know how to repay her elder brother's kindness.
Just like now, A Chun was well aware that she was being gossiped about, but her status as a dependent was an undeniable fact, and she couldn't blame others for talking. Therefore, she hoped even more to marry soon and then bring her mother over to care for her.
Now that Helu was standing up for her, it was undoubtedly due to Shen Weizhen's intention. Otherwise, as in the past, they would have casually assigned a maid to deliver the items, not sent a senior maid like Helu.
"Thank you, Sister Helu," A Chun said. "Please tell elder brother that if he enjoys it, I'll make it for him every day from now on."
Helu couldn't help but laugh: "Young miss, how can you go to the kitchen every day? Even if you were willing, I'm afraid the young master wouldn't have the heart to drink it."
A Chun felt embarrassed: "Elder brother treats me so well, yet I can do so little for him… Receiving gifts from him every day, I feel ashamed for having nothing to repay him with."
Helu thought to herself, how could there be no opportunity to repay? Earlier, while serving tea, she had heard Shen Weizhen discussing selecting husbands for his sisters. This young miss was both beautiful and had a good temperament. If she could find a good husband, that would naturally be a repayment to Shen Weizhen.
Such words would never be spoken to an unmarried young lady. Helu personally escorted A Chun back to Cangchunwu, and by the time she returned to Renshoutang to report, she was already late.
She recounted everything she had seen and heard that day to Shen Weizhen, leaving nothing out, including A Chun's sincere words of gratitude.
After listening, Shen Weizhen instructed: "Do not disturb the Old Ancestor. Go and inform the mistress that there are two matrons in the kitchen gossiping about their masters, and ask her to decide how to handle it."
Helu acknowledged the order.
Shen Weizhen remembered the calluses and knife cuts on A Chun's hands: "Chun Yu is skilled in cooking. Go and tell the young miss that if she wishes to stew soup or cook in the future, she need not go to the main kitchen. She can come to the small kitchen in my courtyard instead. She doesn't need to do the work herself—she can explain the method, and Chun Yu will prepare it. As for purchasing ingredients, all expenses will come from my account."
Helu accepted the orders and left.
After she had gone, Shen Weizhen noticed the soup Helu had brought, said to be personally prepared by A Chun, in the style of Nanwuzhou.
He frowned.
Due to his parents' discord, Shen Weizhen instinctively rejected and loathed Nanwuzhou.
Anything related to Nanwuzhou—objects, food—he avoided entirely.
This time would be no exception.
He simply couldn't understand why A Chun always acted so overwhelmingly grateful. He had only helped her slightly—it could hardly even be called "help," just fulfilling his duty as an elder brother, a simple gesture—yet she seemed ready to offer him everything she had.
It was the first time he had encountered such undisguised gratitude, so direct it felt as if she were offering her very heart, completely unlike his other younger siblings. Shen Weizhen felt somewhat at a loss.
For a moment, he didn't know how to treat her.
The bowl of soup was left untouched until it grew cold, then discarded.
At noon, a servant hurried in to report that Zhang Jian, the fourth son of the Left Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel, had come to visit.
No advance notice had been sent, and the suddenness of the visit was within Shen Weizhen's expectations.
Considering there were many younger sisters in the inner courtyard, Shen Weizhen stood up. "Please invite Young Master Zhang to the front hall—"
Before he could finish, Ye Qing came in to report, "Master, Young Master Zhang is here."
Shen Weizhen remained expressionless as he watched Zhang Jian stride into the courtyard.
Though inwardly displeased by his lack of etiquette, Shen Weizhen still smiled and addressed him by his courtesy name. "Shaofan, please."
Zhang Jian, straightforward by nature, clasped his hands. "Brother Yuanjing, are you feeling better now?"
As they moved to the bamboo-lined corridor, they exchanged pleasantries. Before they had spoken much, Zhang Jian suddenly stopped, frozen in place, staring wide-eyed with his mouth slightly agape, as if he had seen something extraordinary.
Shen Weizhen turned around.
Bamboo shadows danced in the late summer breeze, cool and green. Amid the verdant hues, A Chun approached carrying a small food box. She wore a pale apricot wide-sleeved robe, overlaid with a pomegranate-red half-sleeve jacket, and a red-and-green interwoven Eight-panel skirt with an apricot-colored waist wrap. No accessories adorned her waist, but a pomegranate-red, gold-sprinkled shawl was draped over her shoulders, making her look like a celestial being.
Shen Weizhen thought the sun was too bright today, too harsh, making it hard for him to see clearly.
Their eyes met from a distance, and A Chun exclaimed with delight, "Brother!"
Shen Weizhen thought to himself that one tutor might not be enough—he would need to hire a lady to teach her etiquette as well.
Bamboo leaves sliced the sunlight into scattered, dappled circles that illuminated the soft fuzz on her forehead. A Chun quickened her pace, beaming with joy. "Brother, Old Ancestor just gave me some pastries. They're delicious, and I wanted you to try them too. I was going to bring them to your courtyard, but I didn't expect to find you here—"
Shen Weizhen hadn't expected her to come either.
Beyond this bamboo grove was the courtyard where he lived. His younger sisters were afraid of him and rarely dared to come here to play. That was precisely why Shen Weizhen had chosen this spot to speak with Zhang Jian.
He had forgotten that there was one younger sister in the household who wasn't afraid of him.
A Chun's actions were improper.
With an unrelated man present, she shouldn't have approached, let alone come so close.
How could she act as if she hadn't seen Zhang Jian?
Shen Weizhen quickly called out to her, "Jinghui, this is my classmate, Zhang Jian."
A Chun was quick with her hands. As he spoke, she had already set down the food box and opened the lid. Hearing his words, she let out a surprised "Oh?" and followed her brother's gaze, startling—
Ah! How could there be another person here!
A Chun immediately took a few steps back, moving behind Shen Weizhen, and bowed properly. "Young Master Zhang."
Displeased by Zhang Jian's gaze, Shen Weizhen spoke up. "Shaofan, this is my younger sister, Jinghui."
Zhang Jian suddenly stood up, his knee knocking against the stone table with a loud thud. Startled, A Chun took another step back, moving closer to Shen Weizhen, and looked at him in surprise.
Zhang Jian felt no pain at all. Under her gaze, his entire body felt warm and fuzzy, like a duck slowly roasted over a gentle fire, its down feathers falling away layer by layer.
In this warm haze, Zhang Jian stared blankly at A Chun, clasped his hands, and bowed. "Younger sister."
A Chun gave a slight bow in return.
"Yuanjing," Zhang Jian couldn't help but ask, "which younger sister is this?"
"Cousin," Shen Weizhen replied calmly. "Jinghui, you may go back first. I will come see you later."
A Chun realized belatedly that noble families in Jingcheng had many rules, and unrelated men and women should not meet like this.
Observing Shen Weizhen's expression, she sensed her brother was displeased and feared he would lecture her on etiquette later.
A Chun cared about her dignity and didn't want to be scolded by her brother in Cangchunwu. "May I wait in your courtyard instead?"
Shen Weizhen nodded. "Very well."
Crestfallen, A Chun picked up her small food box and trudged off to wait at Renshoutang.
It wasn't that she was stingy or unwilling to share with Young Master Zhang. It was just that Old Ancestor had only given her six pieces in total. Being greedy, she had eaten two, sent two to her mother, and now only two remained.
She wanted to give them all to her brother.
Helu was instructing maids to take Shen Weizhen's clothes for washing. Seeing A Chun, she was taken aback. Upon hearing that Shen Weizhen had asked her to wait, Helu immediately led her to a small side room.
This was where Shen Weizhen often drank tea with his younger brothers. Outside the window was a small, clear pond. With the bamboo blinds rolled up, gentle breezes carried birdsong and floral scents, creating an elegant atmosphere.
A Chun drank two cups of tea before Shen Weizhen returned.
His expression was not good. Seeing her, he paused, his face instantly turning cold.
"You shouldn't have come over directly with an outsider present," Shen Weizhen said. "If there's a next time, come to my courtyard first and wait. Have Helu or the others call for me."
A Chun whispered, "I didn't see him."
Shen Weizhen didn't catch it. "What?"
"I didn't see him," A Chun explained. "I don't know how it happened, but earlier I only saw you, brother. I didn't see Young Master Zhang at all. Only when you spoke and reminded me did I notice…"
She felt somewhat wronged, yet also felt that her grievance was misplaced—she shouldn't feel wronged. Even though she hadn't seen him, it was still her fault.
But she had only wanted her brother to taste the delicious pastries.
A Chun took deep breaths, trying to swallow her sadness, and lowered her head.
"The pastries from Old Ancestor were very delicious. There were six pieces in total. Mother ate two. I originally thought I'd eat one myself and give the remaining three to you, brother. But they were so delicious, I couldn't resist and ate another one…"
The more she spoke, the more she blamed herself.
Why was she saying all this? Would her brother think she was greedy and petty?
It was all her fault. Shen Weizhen had given her a Mingwa Lantern and a cloak yesterday, and today he had given her Eye-Brightening Pills. She had thought she was growing closer to her brother, but it turned out she was just being presumptuous.
How embarrassing.
But the words were already out, like water rushing onto the shore, impossible to stop. "…Now there are only two pieces left. If you don't like them, brother, I'll just leave."
With that, A Chun reached out, closed the already opened food box, picked it up, and stood. "I've disturbed you today, brother. I—"
Before she could finish, Shen Weizhen reached out and stopped her.
His feelings were complicated; for a moment, he didn't know how to address her.
He had only said a few words, yet she had replied with over a dozen—and with such a wronged look, as if he were the one who had done something wrong.
"I never said I wouldn't eat them," Shen Weizhen said, his voice softening. "Why are you in such a hurry?"
A Chun still kept her head down. "My eyes are unwell. Perhaps this is what the teacher meant by 'nimble hands and quick eyes.'"
Shen Weizhen corrected her. "The 'ji' in 'eye ailment' doesn't mean that."
He reached out and took the food box from A Chun's hands.
A Chun asked, "Then what does it mean?"
She raised her face, and Shen Weizhen saw her eyes—indeed, she had been holding back tears earlier, her eye rims were red, and her eyes were bright, like blue tiles washed clean by a heavy rain.
He sighed silently, helpless.
"It means I want Jinghui to stay for tea," Shen Weizhen said. "Sit down, and I'll talk to you slowly—I won't scold you, so don't cry."