A breeze blew, rustling the leaves of the flowering trees nearby, but there was no other movement.
Liu Suisui stood there, her face pale, her heart uneasy.
As the man strode toward her, her heart raced like thunder.
He drew closer, and just as Liu Suisui thought he would stop, he passed by without pause, walking straight away.
Expressionless.
His gaze was as indifferent as if he had never seen her before.
The wind suddenly ceased.
Though it was still deep winter, Liu Suisui felt her cheeks burning, flushed and pale, utterly embarrassed.
She wasn’t foolish—how could she not understand his meaning?
Imperial Guard Commander Shen, always arrogant and aloof.
Even if she was the niece of his second brother’s wife, what did that matter?
In his eyes, she was merely an outsider.
A “beggar” who had traveled a thousand miles to seek refuge with his Shen family.
He even scorned speaking a single word to her, unwilling to hear any explanation from her.
Chun Yao approached, supporting her arm, and seeing her pallid face, grew concerned: “Madam, are you alright?”
Liu Suisui slowly regained her senses.
She took a deep breath, then exhaled heavily.
Suddenly, her heart felt lighter.
The matter she had been anxiously worrying about was suddenly resolved.
If the villain that night was Fourth Master Shen, judging from the situation just now, he did not wish to “recognize” her.
Since he did not wish it, she naturally welcomed it.
After all, she was a proper young lady of the inner chambers, treated by him in such a manner—if word spread, how could she marry in the future?
He pretended not to recognize her; she took advantage of the situation.
A perfect solution for both.
Thinking this, Liu Suisui’s tone became lighthearted: “I’m fine.”
“Where shall we go now?”
“Back to Qingzhi Ge.”
…
As Shen Gongshen entered the room, the brisk voice of his eldest sister-in-law, Madam Miao, rang out: “Mother, look—speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives.”
Second Madam Liu smiled and chimed in: “Fourth Brother is truly easy to summon.”
Old Madam was also delighted.
She looked at her youngest son striding toward her, her eyes full of affection.
“Why have you come today?”
Shen Gongshen was consistently busy, and his visits to pay respects were few.
But whenever he was home, he would come to Huichun Courtyard once, showing considerable filial piety.
Before his mother, Shen Gongshen shed his coldness, his expression softening somewhat.
He respectfully replied: “Today there’s nothing urgent; delaying departure a bit is fine.” As he spoke, he sat down nearby.
A maid offered tea; he accepted it, sipped, and set down the cup.
Then he raised his gaze to Madam Liu seated opposite.
Madam Liu, who was drinking tea, saw him suddenly staring at her and felt a pang of unease, sensing trouble.
Next, she heard Shen Gongshen ask her: “Just coming in from outside, I saw a young lady who resembles Second Sister-in-law somewhat.”
Madam Liu’s heart relaxed—she had thought something serious was afoot.
Thus she replied: “She’s my niece from my parents' home, just arrived yesterday from Sucheng.”
Shen Gongshen nodded slightly: “So that’s it!”
He rose and addressed Old Madam: “I still have matters to attend to; I’ll visit you again tonight.”
Old Madam hurriedly said: “If you have things to do, go attend to them. Don’t always worry about me; your own health is important too.”
“Yes, I bid farewell!”
Madam Liu watched Shen Gongshen stride away, pondering his earlier words, feeling somewhat inexplicably uneasy.
She had married into the Shen family for nearly twenty years; Shen Gongshen was practically someone she had watched grow up.
She understood his temperament well.
He wasn't the type to bother with trivial matters like a new young lady suddenly appearing in the household.
If he asked about it, it definitely wouldn't be as simple as just those few words.
Thinking of this, Madam Liu felt uneasy.
She forced herself to wait until they left Huichun Tang and returned to Ziwei Yuan, then asked someone to inquire… Suddenly, Madam Liu felt a headache coming.
Nong Yu softly advised beside her: "Actually, this can't be blamed on the young lady. She didn't do anything."
But Madam Liu sighed: "Originally, it was just a small matter. After Yurou and Ling'er argued a few times, it would have passed. But it happened to be witnessed by the fourth brother. He punished San Niang but spared Ling'er. When the eldest sister-in-law learns of this, she'll likely feel resentful."
Nong Yu remained silent.
Madam Liu was somewhat angry: "How could he not know Suisui is my niece? He knows everything about the household affairs. Suisui arrived from Sucheng yesterday, everyone in the estate knows. I don't believe he didn't know? Yet he deliberately mentioned it in front of Mother…"
Madam Liu also felt puzzled: "Suisui just arrived in the capital and hasn't offended him, right?"
Nong Yu advised: "Perhaps Fourth Master just mentioned it casually."
"He mentioned it casually? Do you think he has that much free time?"
Madam Liu racked her brains but couldn't figure out the reason. Finally, she waved her hand dismissively, "Enough, let's try to keep Suisui from going to other courtyards in the future and have her stay quietly in our Ziwei Yuan."
"Yes!"
Perhaps feeling guilty toward her niece.
Madam Liu sent someone to invite the manager of Linglong Pavilion to come personally measure Liu Suisui's size, making a pile of spring clothes, and also had Duobao Pavilion send over many accessories.
This angered Shen Yuling so much that she came hopping to her courtyard again.
"Hmph, Mother is mine, don't think you can compete with me!"
Liu Suisui deliberately provoked her: "She's also my aunt!"
"Just an aunt, I'm her own daughter."
"Oh!"
"What are you 'oh-ing' about? I don't even have this gold hairpin, why should Mother give it to you first?"
"Maybe because I'm prettier than you?"
Shen Yuling was so angry she burst into tears.
While crying, she pointed at Liu Suisui with her finger: "Liu Suisui, you're not human, I don't want you as my cousin, you leave!"
Liu Suisui suddenly found her somewhat cute.
So she took that pair of butterfly gold hairpins from the pile of accessories and handed them to Shen Yuling: "Here, for you."
Shen Yuling glanced at them, then turned her face away: "Who cares."
"You really don't want them? Then I'll keep them all." Liu Suisui deliberately packed them slowly, "Capital accessories are truly beautiful. I've never seen such lovely hair ornaments and hairpins before. Chun Yao, help me style my hair later, I want to try wearing them…"
A hand reached out and snatched the pair of gold hairpins from her hand.
"Try what? You can't go out anyway, what's the point of trying?" Shen Yuling toyed with the hairpins, then remembered something and became happy again, "On March eighth, Baihua Garden opens. Mother and I will both go then, but we won't take you."
Liu Suisui smiled without speaking.
Seeing her silent, Shen Yuling felt bored, took the pair of gold hairpins, and stomped away angrily.
Liu Suisui found it amusing.
Chun Yao also laughed: "I think Fifth Lady is quite interesting."
Liu Suisui smiled without speaking.
Shen Yuling just had an unpleasant mouth, but actually had no ill intentions.
She suddenly recalled that day, when Second Madam Shen Yurong had said nothing at all, yet with just a glance, she had shifted everyone's attention onto her. Remembering Shen Gongshen's cold gaze, Liu Suisui's heart trembled.
Though it seemed Fourth Master Shen had punished Third Madam, in reality, he had given her a warning.
Now, her movements were restricted…
Liu Suisui couldn't help but sigh: She had come to the capital hoping to find a good match and marry a wealthy gentleman. But if she were confined to the inner courtyard day after day, where would she ever find a rich husband?
Once she came of age, her aunt would surely start worrying about her marriage prospects.
Given her current situation, what kind of good match could she possibly deserve?
At best, she might marry a poor scholar who had passed the imperial exams—and even that would be considered marrying above her station.
But she had no desire to marry a scholar.
Her own father had also been a scholar, serving as a minor sixth-rank official in Sucheng, honest and upright. If not for the Shen family's wealth, how comfortable could their lives have been?
Liu Suisui had suffered enough from the hardships of having no money to rely on and no one to turn to.
Since heaven had blessed her with beauty, she was determined to make the most of this advantage and secure a good marriage for herself.