It was a lively new year in the Shen Residence.
Originally, it was because of Ren Wan Yun's and Shen Qing's matters that the atmosphere of the General's residence became depressing, but after the arrival of Jing Chu Chu and Jing Guan Sheng, Old Shen Fūrén was filled with enthusiasm. She often allowed both siblings to walk around the General's residence and Shen Yue was one who was accustomed to deal with people, thus in a short time she and Jing Chu Chu refer to one another as sisters but no one knew if it was sincere or not.
Although Shen Yue treated Jing Chu Chu and brother well, the place where this pair of siblings liked to run the most was the Western Courtyard. Especially Jing Chu Chu, who often sent over snacks to those who were practising swordplay. With the previous experience, when coming over she brought a share of soup for everyone, but as compared to the soup that Shen Miao made, the taste was not as wonderful. Those soldiers were frank and outspoken people and kept constantly thinking about the soup that Shen Miao made, and did not show much gratitude to Jing Chu Chu's efforts.
Today was also the case after the food that Jing Chu Chu brought over was finished, Shen Qiu did not talk with her and wanted to continue practising his sword but was stopped by Jing Chu Chu, "Biǎogē…"
"It is better for Biǎomèi to return earlier." Shen Qiu smiled candidly, "The people here practising swordplay are all coarse and there are no eyes on swords, thus it would not be good if one accidentally hurts you. Besides, you keep on running here all day and you are a female so it is not a good thing to watch us males practise swords."
It was actually an order to expel the guest.
Jing Chu Chu's face flushed red in a moment and looked at Shen Qiu incredulously. Her eyes were wavering with ripples as if in the next moment she would be crying. Normal males would have long had tender and protective feelings for the fairer gender when they saw her actions. But Shen Qiu was not one who appreciated beautiful people and just stood there blankly without even going forward to comfort.
Seeing Shen Qiu being like this, Jing Chu Chu's originally flushed face became white suddenly. She hurriedly lowered her head and picked up the basket, "Chu Chu understand." She then picked her skirt up and ran away. Those who did not know would think that Shen Qiu did something to her.
After Jing Chu Chu left, a person appeared behind the column, it was Shen Miao who then said, "Dàgē, you really do not know how to cherish flowers."
"Hei hei." Shen Qiu scratched his head, "I am afraid that mèimèi will get angry!"
"Why would I be angry?" Shen Miao said flutteringly.
Shen Qiu suddenly felt a burst of cold wind whizzing by and he said, "Mèimèi do not like biǎomèi."
"I have no grudges against Biǎojiě so how would I not like?" Shen Miao retorted.
"JiaoJiao, is it that that girl bullied you in secret?" Shen Xin who just finished practising the sword walked over and coincidentally heard the conversation between Shen Qiu and Shen Miao and said, "If she bullies you, do not speak anymore and beat her up!"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Luo Xue Yan saw them talking lively and also walked over. When she heard him, she glared at Shen Xin, "JiaoJiao, do not listen to your Fùqīn's nonsense. How can a young lady casually make a move? If she really bullies you, come back and tell Mǔqīn. Mǔqīn will beat her up for you."
"That is still a beating." Shen Qiu muttered, "It is better for me to go give a beating since I am young and strong."
Shen Miao said, "She did not bully me."
"Then why does JiaoJiao not like her?" Luo Xue Yan asked. Even slow-witted people were able to see that Shen Miao did not like Jing Chu Chu. As long as Jing Chu Chu comes over, Shen Miao would ask Shen Qiu to practice shooting darts. It was actually quite merciless to shoot darts and usually Shen Xin and the rest would not do it in the residence, fearing that it would scare the maids. After all, it does not look good as they used little active animals as live targets. Every time Jing Chu Chu came over, Shen Miao would say, "Fùqīn, Dàgē, I want to watch darts shooting."
Jing Chu Chu would pale every single time but would still stand at the side and often vomited after watching. Shen Miao enjoyed this and never seemed tired of it as her heart felt comfortable every time Jing Chu Chu vomited. Over time, everyone in the courtyard could see that Shen Miao deliberately messed with Jing Chu Chu.
Shen Xin and the rest did not quite understand but upon seeing Shen Miao throwing a temper, they thought that it was most likely some discord between young ladies, and because it was not good for men to directly intervene in young ladies' matters, they let Shen Miao continue with her temper. Most likely they were just too curious that they could not help but ask.
"I do not dislike her." Shen Miao said. Just as she finished speaking, Jing Zhe who was standing at the side opened her mouth, "Xiǎojiě likes quietness but that Biǎo xiǎojiě and Biǎo shàoyé often come over to talk to Xiǎojiě. Especially that Biǎo shàoyé who just had to chat with Xiǎojiě. Xiǎojiě has always not liked to talk to strangers and it is assumed that it is a bit annoying."
Jing Zhe made those remarks with a serious expression and Shen Miao could not help but turn back and look at her. Shen Xin's and Luo Xue Yan's faces changed as Jing Zhe's words on the surface sounded that Shen Miao was annoyed by the siblings from the Jing family, but actually there were additional meanings to the words. For a Young Master to often come over to talk to a Biǎo Younger Sister, it was somewhat of an effort of entanglement. Luo Xue Yan angrily spoke, "What is the meaning of that nephew of yours?"
"Fūrén quell your anger." Shen Xin quickly soothed before turning to Shen Qiu, "You brat, you have arranged so many guards in the courtyard and still did not discover that your Mèimèi is disturbed by those cats and dogs?"
Shen Qiu felt wronged, "I really did not discover…"
Naturally, Shen Qiu would not discover anything because the places that Jing Guan Sheng chose to encounter with Shen Miao were not in the courtyard. It was either at the residence's doors or in the gardens or even at the corridor. In short, it was always a 'chance encounter'.
"Go and guard the courtyard's door properly. If those two siblings are seen, just say that the courtyard needs to be closed to practice swordplay. No one can let them in!" Shen Xin roared.
Shen Qiu immediately went to select the people.
Luo Xue Yan caressed Shen Miao's head, "JiaoJiao, in the future if that person comes and disturbs you. Do not need to be courteous with them. Beat him up."
Shen Xin, "…"
After Luo Xue Yan and Shen Xin returned back to the training grounds, Shen Miao's gaze fluttered towards Jing Zhe, "You have too many words."
"This servant knows one's mistake. But Xiǎojiě," Jing Zhe hanged her head down, "ThatBiǎo shàoyé is obviously up to no good with you. Since you have long seen it, why not tell Lǎoyé and Fūrén about it?"
"Jing Guan Sheng is an astute person." Shen Miao lightly smiled, "It is a waste to discard an astute person. By borrowing strength to leverage against strength, there is use if I were to keep him. But," She turned the topic of discussion, "Since you mentioned it today, there would be some things that would speed up so let us just wait and see."
*****
After Shen Qiu arranged guards at the Western Courtyard's doors and strictly guarded against the two siblings, Jing Chu Chu and Jing Guan Sheng, the Western Courtyard quietened by a lot. Without the interferences from both siblings, Shen Miao was freer. But since it was peaceful here, there would be people who got anxious.
In Rong Jing Tang, Old Shen Fūrén was staring at Jing Chu Chu, as if the previous affection was just illusions, "Chu Chu, what did you do? Why is it you cannot even get into Lǎodà's courtyard?"
Jing Chu Chu lowered her head with some aggravation and softly said, "One did not know why but Wǔ biǎomèi seemed to be on guard with me. Dà biǎogē treats me rather well but Wǔ biǎomèi always make him alienate me. The guards at the courtyard doors were also much stricter."
"Again with Wǔ jiě'ér!" Old Shen Fūrén's face turned green and Zhang Mama who was standing beside quickly patted her back and comforted, "Old Fūrén be appeased."
"That girl is so smart. Never mind with your Gēgē, now even you are also guarded against to this level. This angers me to death!" Old Shen Fūrén's original intention for Jing Guan Sheng and Jing Chu Chu was that one would deal with Shen Miao, and the other would deal with Shen Qiu. But Shen Miao was after all a female and in matters of female and male, once anything happens, the one who suffers would always be the female. With Shen Xin���s and Luo Xue Yan's temperament, most likely they would take action. As for Shen Qiu, the person who suffers was Jing Chu Chu so logically this would be skewed to their side. Previously, the Western Courtyard people were all very casual and since they were people who fought on the battlefield, they were not preoccupied with these little things but who knew that the Western Courtyard started to change their behaviour, and now they even locked up their courtyard's doors.
"Old Fūrén," Zhang Mama sighed, "This kind of attitude of Wǔ xiǎojiě, one fear that she is already suspicious of Biǎo xiǎojiě, thus one fear that there will be some difficulties to move a step forward."
When Jing Chu Chu heard this, her heart was somewhat humiliated. She feels that she is pretty and smart and in the Suzhou region, even Gentleman Wang Sun would also fall for her soft and weak act, thus she felt so unhappy at the moment.
"What you mean is…" Old Shen Fūrén frowned.
"Serious illness requires ferocious medication." Zhang Mama reminded, "If this matter were to drag on, it would be too late when Dà shàoyé arranged any marriage with whichever Gūniáng of noble families."
Old Shen Fūrén quickly reacted and played along, "What you say is not wrong. If one waits till that time, it would be too late." She looked towards Jing Chu Chu and a loving smile appeared on her face but when others saw that smile, it looked very fake. She said, "Chu Chu, do you actually want to marry Qiu-er or not?"
Jing Chu Chu hung her head down, "Want."
"Are you willing to do anything to marry Qiu-er?"
Jing Chu Chu was surprised for a moment and vaguely guessed it out before her heart started jumping. When dealing with a male, she was able to do it skillfully and easily. Chu Chu's pitiful look enabled her to grab onto the hearts of the rich and wealthy young masters easily. But in the General's residence, Shen Qiu was the Di-son of the Formidable Great General and that could not be compared with wealth, so naturally, she would be moved. Even though she had never done such a thing before but hearing Old Shen Fūrén's words, it was as if a lot of golden leaves and silver flowers appeared. She clenched her fists and said softly, "Chu Chu… is willing."
Old Shen Fūrén smiled in satisfaction.
*****
For a few continuous days, the Shen Residence had calmed down a lot, as Jing Chu Chu and Jing Guan Sheng stayed at Rong Jing Tang's courtyard and did not go out, no one knew what they were fiddling about.
This day when Shen Miao was walking along the corridor to head out, coincidently she met Jing Chu Chu. Jing Chu Chu was wearing a white jacket with a light jade green coloured skirt with a jasper hanging. In the capital, young ladies from Suzhou were considered a unique flavour and it was enough to make passersby stop.
"Wǔ biǎomèi" Jing Chu Chu rushed over to greet her.
Shen Miao smiled gently, "Where is Biǎojiě going?"
It was rare for Shen Miao to talk to Jing Chu Chu so she was startled for a moment before speaking, "Returning to the room to do some embroidery." She lowered her head shyly, "Anyways, there is nothing else to do."
"Since there is nothing to do, then why not go out with me." Shen Miao said, "I am about to go to the jewellery shop to select some. If you do not mind, you can also go and pick some jewellery."
Jing Chu Chu this time was stunned as Shen Miao usually treated her lukewarmly and no matter how she tried to get closer, it would be unsuccessful. But it was an unprecedented thing to be willing to bring her out. Jing Chu Chu had seen much infighting between the Yīniángs and Tóngfāngs in her own backyard, and thus her first reaction was alarm. But after hearing that Shen Miao was going to the jewellery shop, her eyes suddenly brightened.
She seemed to be sizing Shen Miao up. Shen Miao was wearing a snow-green coloured dress with lightly-inked crane patterns on her skirt and overall there was the only colour. She always wore dark and deep colours but did not look at all old-fashioned, and instead made her complexion look like jade and very noble. Jing Chu Chu was secretly jealous as she thought that her appearance was not far from Shen Miao, but when she stood together with Shen Miao, she inevitably felt ashamed. Shen Miao's air of nobility was inborn and with one look, one could tell that Jing Chu Chu was from a small family.
The more one was jealous, the more yearning one would have. Jing Chu Chu's eyes fell onto the lotus pearl hairpin on Shen Miao's hair. That pearl was big and round, almost blinding Jing Chu Chu's eyes with its flashing lustre when it moved. She quickly lowered her head so that her greedy gaze was out of other's view. Jing Chu Chu said, "Since Wǔ biǎomèi has no one to accompany, then I will go along together."
Bai Lu and Shuang Jiang walked behind and there was a flash of slight contempt in their eyes. She was after all from a small family and was superficial. Just a little jewellery was enough to lead her by the nose, no wonder Shen Miao said that Jing Chu Chu was one not to be feared.
Both of them walked out of the residence's doors and headed to the heart of the capital in the horse carriage. Naturally, Shen Qiu let a group of guards follow, making it seem very imposing. When they arrived at Zhen Bao Ge (name of the jewellery shop), Shen Miao casually selected a few pieces of jewellery. On the contrary, it was Jing Chu Chu who held one and touched another, making the store manager cast over sidelong glances. In all fairness, Jing Chu Chu was considered good in terms of appearance, and it was especially so that Suzhou females usually have a soft and watery like appearance, which was different from the females in the capital. But this kind of small family attitude discounted her pretty appearance by a lot. After all, one could not get on well in the capital just based on how one looked.
Seeing Jing Chu Chu like this, Shen Miao was also not stingy and paid the money for all those she fancied. Jing Chu Chu naturally felt closer to Shen Miao. When it was nearing noon, Shen Miao said, "Let us eat outside. After selecting the entire afternoon one would feel somewhat hungry. Most likely, you have not yet been to the capital's Kuai Huo Luo since ordinary people do not have such a culinary treat."
Jing Chu Chu looked at the grand entrance of the restaurant and her eyes revealed a longing for it. Today Shen Miao selected jewellery and bought clothes making Jing Chu Chu feel dizzy momentarily, as she had never seen one being this generous. It was because of this that she felt that the Shen family was rich, and had the determined heart to enter the Shen family.
Shen Miao selected the seat by the second-floor window and the waiter mentioned a number of dishes before Shen Miao picked a few. Those she ordered were Kuai Huo Lou's signature dishes which made Jing Chu Chu dazed. It was only after the waiter left that then Shen Miao said to Jing Chu Chu, "Those who patronage here are wealthy and respectable. Many were all high-ranked officials thus one cannot underestimate."
Jing Chu Chu nodded her head repeatedly.
Shen Miao lightly smiled and picked up the tea to drink, but her hand carelessly trembled and the teacup was overturned onto her body and half the tea in the cup landed on the skirt. Jing Chu Chu jumped in shock, "Wǔ biǎomèi?"
"It is of no matter." Shen Miao waved her hands and stood up, "There is a place here to change and there are some clothes in the horse carriage. I will go now to change and you can wait for me here." Finishing, she called Bai Lu and Shuang Jiang, "Let us go."
When she left, the Shen Residence guards also followed to leave thus Jing Chu Chu quickly shouted, "Wǔ biǎomèi, these guards…" She was after all somewhat scared.
"No need to worry. No one will make things difficult for you in broad daylight." Shen Miao said, "Moreover, those who patronize here are wealthy and respectable and would not do anything." Her expression was soft but her tone was unquestionable. Jing Chu Chu subconsciously was unable to refute and when she recovered to her senses, Shen Miao had already walked out with the group of guards.
Jing Chu Chu's expression darkened. Shen Miao would always have an attitude of being high above in front of her, and this kind of attitude made Jing Chu Chu distinctly feel the gap between them and thus felt even more unresigned. Moreover, she had heard the people in the Shen Residence talking that Shen Miao was previously a stupid and naïve idiot that had no knowledge of the four scholarly arts, but still unreasonably occupied the position of the Di-daughter of the Eldest household of the Shen family. Shen Xin and wife also give in to all her whims and wants, that without a second word they would let Shen Miao pick first from the things that His Majesty bestowed. Humans would always be jealous due to comparisons and Jing Chu Chu was crazy with jealousy of Shen Miao at the moment.
She picked up the teacup in front but followed Shen Miao's action just now and took small sips from it as if doing it would contract a little of Shen Miao's air of nobility.
Just at this moment, a group of people walked past her and sat down on the table beside. The person who was leading was a youth that had a gentle and literary appearance clad in rich clothes, and even the clothes of the old servants following were made of fine cloth.
Thinking of Shen Miao's mention of 'those who patronage here are the wealthy and respectable', Jing Chu Chu's heart moved.
That young person seemed to have noticed her as his gaze moved over. When one could see Jing Chu Chu's appearance clearly, that pair of eyes could not help but brighten.
Jing Chu Chu wore an off white jaded skirt with her snow-like complexion and most importantly her soft and timid look when she saw the person, she quickly lowered her head as if she was frightened. Most of the capital's females' actions were magnanimous and proper because they were all living in the Royal capital, so one would rarely see such delicate and affectionate Jiang Nan females. That young person's eyes were somewhat fixed on her and the more he looked, the more eager his gaze became, and the lower Jing Chu Chu's head bent.
As the time slowly elapsed, the dishes had all arrived but Shen Miao did not come over for a long time, leaving Jing Chu Chu alone sitting at the table. It was not alright for her to start eating so she took small sips of the tea and had an appearance of a loss of what to do.
Finally, that richly clad gentleman at the next table could no longer tolerate, and sat down across Jing Chu Chu under the watchful eyes of everyone and softly asked, "One sees that Gūniáng has been sitting alone here waiting for a long time, is it to wait for someone?"
Jing Chu Chu jumped in shock and when she raised her head to look at the other person, her face suddenly blushed and she whispered as she lowered her head, "I… I am waiting for my Biǎomèi."
That gentleman asked in concern, "Why is Gūniáng's Biǎomèi not here after so long, and how can one leave Gūniáng alone?"
Jing Chu Chu blushed as she shook her head, and she seemed like she wanted to say something but was afraid to speak. Such actions and appearance when landing on other's eyes were like she was being bullied. The gentleman felt certain and said, "Since I do not have anything on, why not one accompany Gūniáng to wait."
"No, no need to trouble." Jing Chu Chu quickly said, "Gentleman need not…"
"It is alright." That person said with a smile. "It would only be more troublesome if some malicious people come over since you are sitting alone. For me to accompany you, it would be much better."
His words were soft and he had a gentle smile on his face, making one easily feel comfortable with him. Jing Chu Chu lowered her head and said, "Then many thanks to Gentleman."
"Gūniáng does not look like one from the capital." He asked.
"I… I am a Suzhou person." Jing Chu Chu said. Both of them started the conversation like this, a sentence back and forth. That youth was especially good at speaking and within a few sentences was able to coax a smile out of Jing Chu Chu. Even though she was shy, one gradually got closer due to that person's attitude. As the youth spoke about interesting information, as he seemed to have gone to many places and had a generous family background, Jing Chu Chu's smile got deeper.
In another elegant room in Kuai Huo Lou, one was able to see clearly Jing Chu Chu's table from afar through a decorative carved window. Bai Lu said, "Biǎo xiǎojiě could speak to a strange male for so long." Her words had the meaning of looking down in contempt.
"That is not an ordinary man." Shen Miao propped her chin with her hand and lively said.
"Xiǎojiě knows that Gentleman?" Shuang Jiang asked curiously and the guards who were in the room were also somewhat surprised. Shen Miao left Jing Chu Chu alone there and changed her seating location seemingly so that Jing Chu Chu would be able to talk to that man. Now with implied meaning behind Shen Miao words, she also knew of that man?
Shen Miao smiled gently but did not speak.
"I say," At the other end, in one of the rooms in Kuai Huo Lou, Ji Yu Shu's eyeballs almost wanted to fall out, "Could it be that she knows Sun Cai Nan?"
"Even though Sun Cai Nan is the only Di-son of Sun Tian Zheng, he had not entered officialdom and was raised in the residence as a wastrel who only knew about eating, drinking and playing. He did not even go to Guang Wen Tang so how does Shen Miao know of him?" Gao Yang glanced over.
"Could it be that you believe this is a coincidence?" Ji Yu Shu said excitedly, "How is this a coincidence? Even fools can see clearly that Shen Xiǎojiě deliberately let Sun Cai Nan meet her Biǎo jiějiě that popped out from who knows where."
"When did I say that this is a coincidence?" Gao Yang snapped his folding fan and put on an act of waving it, "But I felt that not only she knew Sun Cai Nan, but she was also long aware of Sun Cai Nan's likes. Do you not find it strange?" Gao Yang touched his chin, "Shen Miao, an unmarried young lady, is even more powerful than your Bai Xiao Sheng. She had the knowledge of the known and unknown. I am really curious if she knows things that we do not know about."
"Refrain from slandering Bai Xiao Sheng." Ji Yu Shu refuted, "Shen Xiǎojiě is originally not an ordinary person. You and I have been monitoring Shen Xiǎojiě all day long and if Xie Sān biǎogē knows about it, he will definitely scold us for being too free."
"Monitoring her is more interesting than others." Gao Yang looked outside where Sun Cai Nan was chatting with Jing Chu Chu and asked, "Why not you guess what is her purpose of doing this?"
Ji Yu Shu seriously thought about it, "She wants to match-make Sun Cai Nan and her Biǎojiě?"
"When did you see Shen Miao being this kind-hearted?" Gao Yang did not hesitate to pour cold water over him.
"Then what do you say of the matter?" Ji Yu Shu was discouraged.
"The Minister of Personnel… And the Shen family, are there any dealings recently?" Gao Yan pressed the fan against his chin, deep in thought.
Back in Kuai Huo Lou, Jing Chu Chu had spoken to Sun Cai Nan for quite long and the more both of them conversed the more agreeable they became. If someone looked over, one would have thought it was a celestial couple. After a while more, one saw a few Shen Residence's guards walking over to Jing Chu Chu's side, "Biǎo xiǎojiě, Xiǎojiě's clothes did not fit and she had lost the mood, thus she had foot the bill with the manager and left first. She has entrusted these subordinates to protect Biǎo xiǎojiě and send Biǎo xiǎojiě back to the residence after Biǎo xiǎojiě finished eating."
Jing Chu Chu was somewhat astonished, "Wǔ biǎomèi returned first?"
The guard nodded.
"How could Shen Wǔ xiǎojiě just leave you alone like that?" Sun Cai Nan cried injustice. He had already got to know from Jing Chu Chu's lips that the one she was waiting for was the Fifth Young Lady of the Shen residence, Shen Miao. Sun Cai Nan did not know much about Shen Miao and only knew that she was an idiot who was chasing after Prince Ding. Now from today, it seemed that Shen Miao was not only a stupid idiot, but she also liked to bully others.
He wanted to be one who had tender and protective feelings for the fairer gender, so how could Jing Chu Chu waste his effort? She immediately hung her head down and said uneasily, ��Then I will now head back."
"Ai. How can this be done?" Sun Cai Nan immediately said, "If one were to return now, the entire table of dishes would be wasted. No one had directly disposed of Kuai Hou Lou's dishes before." He looked at Jing Chu Chu who seemed to be at a loss and smiled gently, "How about this, if Gūniáng does not mind, this one is willing to accompany Gūniáng for a meal." He put up the appearance of a gentleman, "With so many guards around, why not let them send you back after eating?
"This…" Jing Chu Chu was at a somewhat loss.
"Since we have encountered, it means that you and I are fated. Since fated, one must live up to the fate that the Heavens bestowed." Sun Cai Nan had a glib tongue, "For this one to see Gūniáng today, one had the feeling of meeting one's old friend thus one start chatting with Gūniáng. Not sure if this one's suggestion, Gūniáng would be willing to accept."
After hesitating for a while, Jing Chu Chu finally nodded her head hesitantly, "Then… One will follow according to Gōngzǐ."
Both of them began to truly eat and chat together and far from the compartment, Shen Miao looked upon that pair and a cold smile started to slowly appear on her lips.
She was familiar with Sun Cai Nan. It was this person who made Shen Qiu wear a big green hat in the past life, Shen Qiu was young and hot-blooded and dragged his broken leg over and killed this person in a breath. But it was only after one found out that Sun Cai Nan was the only son of the Minister of Personnel. It was because this Sun Cai Nan had neither learning nor skills, he would utilize his mouth and good appearance to hook females everywhere. No matter it was young females or women, he would eat them up as much as possible. Sun Tian Zheng was afraid that the Censors would report on him so he would not let Sun Cai Nan go out normally, thus there were only a few people who knew about Sun Cai Nan.
But in this lifetime, she could recognise Sun Cai Nan even if he turned into ashes.
Sun Cai Nan liked weak and soft Jiang Nan females the best, else in the previous lifetime, he would not be that audacious to sleep with Shen Qiu's woman.
Shen Miao's eyes hung down as she murmured with a voice that only she could hear, "Sun Cai Nan, Jing Chu Chu, Běngōng personally pulled your fates together in this lifetime, so one must not disappoint."