Shen Yurou rarely agreed with her: "Alright, you've never been my opponent anyway."
Seeing this, Old Madam chuckled and agreed.
Four-year-old Shen Shuchao also joined in the excitement: "Fifth sister, I want to go too."
Shen Yuling reached out to hold his hand, then asked Shen Shuyuan, who had finished eating and was sitting opposite: "Brother, come along too. You can be my strategist today; I'm determined to beat Third Sister."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yurou immediately looked at her own brother Shen Shuxi.
"Third Brother, Third Brother, we absolutely cannot lose to them."
The Duke waved his hand grandly: "Let all the children go, so we adults can enjoy drinking peacefully."
Upon hearing this, a group of young ladies and gentlemen all stood up.
Liu Suisui was also pulled out by Shen Yutang.
Eight-year-old Shen Yutong ran after them, bouncing along: "Sisters, wait for me."
The warm pavilion was spacious and bright, heated by floor heating, creating a cozy warmth.
Playing leaf cards required four people per table. Shen Yuling pulled her brother Shen Shuyuan to join her as a team, while Shen Yurou pulled Shen Shuxi. The four sat around a table, while the rest sat nearby watching the game.
Liu Suisui wasn't interested in playing leaf cards. She sat on the couch near the window. The Qiong Hua Lu had a strong aftereffect; she hadn't felt anything earlier, but after leaving Baiwei Hall and being hit by the cold wind, perhaps due to the chill, the alcohol's effect began to surface.
After staying in the room for a while, she felt somewhat stifled.
So she turned to Shen Yutang beside her and said: "I'm going out for a bit."
Shen Yutang, engrossed in watching, turned to her: "Where are you going?"
"The room is too stuffy; I'm going out to get some fresh air."
"Alright, don't go too far. I'll come find you after watching this round."
"Yes."
Liu Suisui stepped out of the door.
Once outside, the cool breeze instantly made her feel much lighter.
She walked leisurely along the covered corridor outside the warm pavilion but didn't dare go too far, as it was nighttime. Although lanterns were placed every three to five steps for illumination, she was always timid and afraid of darkness.
She stopped under a lantern, gazing at the night scenery of the courtyard, but her mind was preoccupied with something else.
It was only half a month until her father's birthday.
She heard that Xiangguo Temple in the capital was bustling with incense offerings; she wanted to light a perpetual lamp for her father.
With Buddha's protection, if her father could be reborn, she hoped his next life would be peaceful!
But these decisions weren't hers to make; she needed to discuss them with her aunt.
Her father was her aunt's only younger brother; she had always been sincere toward him.
If she explained it to her aunt, her aunt would surely agree.
Having made her decision, Liu Suisui felt somewhat relieved. Thinking she had been out for quite some time, she turned to go back, only to encounter someone approaching.
As the person drew closer, she recognized him as Shen Shuxi, Shen the Third Son.
He seemed to have come specifically to find her; seeing her here, he visibly relaxed.
"So Cousin is here; I've been looking for you for a long time."
Liu Suisui thought something had happened and hurriedly asked: "Third Young Master, has something happened?"
"Nothing." Shen Shuxi stopped before her, facing her sparkling watery eyes, suddenly feeling nervous. "I just… just didn't see you in the warm pavilion and worried you might have gotten lost, so I came to find you."
"Thank you for your concern, Third Young Master. I felt a bit stifled in the room and came out to get some fresh air." She asked, "Were you not accompanying them playing cards?"
"I asked Second Sister to take my place."
Shen Shuxi hesitated for a moment. "At the family banquet earlier, my third sister spoke without restraint. I apologize on her behalf."
So it was about this matter.
Liu Suisui quickly replied, "Third Young Master, there's no need to be so polite. It wasn't anything serious, and I didn't take it to heart."
Shen Shuxi, however, praised her, "Cousin, you are well-educated, reasonable, and gentle in temperament. If my third sister had even half of your disposition, Mother would have less to worry about."
"You flatter me, Third Young Master…" Liu Suisui's words trailed off as she suddenly stopped speaking.
Her gaze drifted past Shen Shuxi's shoulder, landing on someone standing not far behind him.
There stood a man in black brocade robes, dark as ink, blending into the night.
If not for the bright lantern overhead, Liu Suisui would never have noticed him.
Shen Shuxi, who had been waiting for her to finish speaking, also sensed something amiss.
Seeing her staring intently behind him with an odd expression, he quickly turned around. When he realized who was standing there, he visibly flinched in panic.
In that moment of distraction, the other man had already strode over.
The distance was not far, and with his long legs and large strides, he reached them in an instant, stopping right before the two.
Shen Shuxi hurriedly spoke, "Fourth Uncle."
Shen Gongshen glanced at him, his expression still relatively mild. "Weren't you playing cards with them? Why are you out here?"
"Yes," Shen Shuxi replied hastily. "I just came out for some fresh air. I'll head back now."
"Mm," Shen Gongshen didn't press further. "Go back then."
"Yes."
Before leaving, Shen Shuxi glanced at Liu Suisui beside him.
He had intended to signal for her to return with him, but with Fourth Uncle watching, he didn't dare. After a moment's hesitation, he turned and left.
Once he was gone, Liu Suisui tensed up completely.
She felt incredibly unlucky.
She had only come out for some fresh air. Running into Shen Shuxi was one thing, but how could she also encounter this grim reaper of a man?
Though she was utterly frustrated, she still had to maintain proper etiquette.
Lowering her eyelids slightly, she curtsied gently toward the man before her. "Uncle."
The other man remained silent.
The surroundings grew deathly quiet.
Thinking her voice might have been too soft for him to hear, Liu Suisui called out again, "Suisui greets Fourth Uncle."
Still, there was no response from the other man.
Bound by etiquette, she dared not rise without his acknowledgment.
So she remained in the curtsy position.
The posture was exhausting; her calves began to ache after just a short while.
Summoning her courage, she finally looked up at the man standing before her.
He had been watching her all along.
His deep, dark eyes were like still, unfathomable pools.
She accidentally met his gaze and was startled, her heart trembling.
Just as she was about to look away, he finally spoke.
"Fourth Miss Liu."
Liu Suisui replied, "Yes."
Shen Gongshen stood before her with his hands clasped behind his back, looking down at the young lady curtsying before him.
In the cold of February, she wore a light-colored silk dress, her figure slender and graceful, her waist delicate. The slight curve of her neck revealed a small patch of skin, glowing white under the lantern light.
Yet it appeared exceptionally fragile and captivating.
He shifted his gaze away, his voice cold.
"The young men of the Shen family are all pure-hearted and upright. Fourth Miss Liu would do well not to set your sights on them."
These words felt like a slap across Liu Suisui's face.
In her fourteen years of life, even during the past three years of enduring countless humiliations, no one had ever insulted her with such words.
A surge of heat rushed to her head.
She took a deep breath, struggling to restrain herself, and slowly straightened up.
Lifting her head to meet his gaze, her eyes were unusually cold and sharp. Upon closer inspection, they even held a trace of disdain and mockery.
She spoke, her voice unexpectedly calm.
"Fourth Master Shen judges others by his own standards. Since your own heart harbors filth, you assume everyone else is the same as you."
Shen Gongshen remained silent.
"Although I am a lone girl, I was raised with care by my parents since childhood. I attended school, studied the Four Books and Five Classics, understand propriety, integrity, shame, and honor, and know the rules of noble families."
Liu Suisui spoke, unable to hold back the redness in her eyes.