After Xu Silin finished speaking with Li Shizhen, he personally escorted him to a side hall to rest.

As soon as he came out of the side hall, the steward came to find him and conveyed Xu Yan's instructions.

"Master has ordered a meal to be prepared, and you and Lord Shen may now enjoy it," the steward said. "Master also said that since Lord Shen lives far away, you may leave him at the mansion for a short stay so that you can visit him at any time."

Xu Silin was completely unaware of Xu Yan's entire plan. Early this morning, Xu Yan came to see him before going on duty, only casually mentioning that his classmate Shen Qingchen's second uncle had been imprisoned, and he hurriedly went to the Dali Temple. Bringing Shen Qian to his residence for treatment was also Xu Silin's own decision, without informing Xu Yan beforehand.

Xu Yan had never liked his father bringing strangers to his residence, and this time he did so with the intention of displeasing his father.

Unexpectedly, his father was not angry at all, but instead prepared a meal for him so attentively that he invited Qingchen to stay.

Xu Silin frowned and asked the steward again, "Did Father really say that?"

The steward nodded. "Master said that Lord Shen is the young master's classmate and a newly promoted official of the court. He won 20,000 warhorses for the Ming Dynasty, so he should be treated well."

"knew."

Today, the Crown Prince's horse race was against the Chagatai Khanate, and it was Qingchen who came up with the winning idea. Father must have recognized Qingchen's talent and thought I was trying to win him over, which is why he's been so tolerant of my behavior.

Unfortunately, he had long forgotten about any attempts to win him over or bring him to submission.

He was simply interacting with her based on his feelings, doing whatever he felt like, regardless of how the world changed or how things turned out.

"I'll go and fetch him right away. You should invite Lord Lin over first."

The steward replied, "Lord Lin said he had other matters to attend to at court and has already left."

"Okay. Then go prepare the meal." Xu Silin finished giving the instructions and went up to the corridor. After taking two steps, he turned back and said, "Don't prepare any wine. He doesn't like to drink... and today isn't the right time."

"Eh."

When Xu Silin returned to the room where Shen Qian was resting, Shen Qian had already fallen asleep again.

Qingchen stayed by the bedside, the incense burner still emitting a faint fragrance. Her slender back looked somewhat frail, and her neck was thin.

"Qingchen," he called softly, "come with me to have some food first."

She turned around and shook her head. "I'm not hungry."

“You went to watch the horse race with the Crown Prince early this morning and have been so busy that you haven’t had a chance to eat yet. How can you not be hungry?” he said. “Your second uncle still needs to rest in the mansion for a while. If you don’t take care of yourself, how can you take care of him?”

She was silent for a moment, then finally stood up. "How about you just give me a steamed bun?"

She really didn't want to owe the Xu family any more favors.

Xu Silin looked at her for a moment, then simply stepped forward and took her wrist. "Let's go."

Qingchen was slightly taken aback. Afraid of disturbing Shen Qian, she did not resist and simply followed him to the door before gently withdrawing her hand.

"I don't have any steamed buns at home." He looked at her, somewhat displeased, and said, "If you're not going to eat them, then I won't either. Why are you being so polite with me?"

A single steamed bun? How could he possibly let her eat only one steamed bun in his own home? They'd been through so much together; there was no need for her to be so polite over a meal. Hearing her say that, he felt a little helpless and a little sad.

The afternoon sun shone on the snow piled up along the corridor, reflecting a shimmering light.

After a moment of quiet eye contact, the two under the corridor nodded.

He's right. She already owes him a great debt of gratitude for rescuing her second uncle, and to still be so petty about a meal seems a bit pretentious.

"Thanks."

"Come on, try the dishes made by the chef I've been eating with since I was a child," he said with a smile, revealing his white teeth.

Qingchen nodded and followed him.

The two had just descended the corridor and entered the courtyard when a little girl ran over from the side. She must have been running too fast, because she bumped into Qingchen, fell to the ground, and scraped her knees.

A childish "Ouch!" rang out.

Qingchen instinctively reached out to help her up, but seeing that she had knelt on the ground, he quickly picked her up and held her in his arms.

The little girl was about four or five years old, wearing a pink padded jacket. She looked chubby, and her round little face was flushed. She must have hurt herself from the fall, because her eyes immediately turned red, and she wiped the wet corners of her eyes with her chubby little hand.

"It's okay, it's okay, don't cry..." Qingchen comforted her while gently patting her back.

Looking at this scene, Xu Silin felt a mix of emotions. The sunlight gently fell on her, and the simple comfort conveyed a touch of warmth, as if he had seen a similar scene before.

It's very familiar.

After regaining his senses, he looked at Qingchen and said, "I'll do it."

"Um."

Xu Silin took his younger sister from Qingchen's arms and looked at her with affection, "Did Zhen'er fall and hurt herself? Why did you run so fast without a maid following you?"

The little girl had big, bright eyes, and she said indistinctly, "I was playing with them, but they couldn't find me, brother, it hurts..."

He wiped away her tears and gently comforted her, "It's okay, we're wearing thick clothes. Let me rub it for you and it won't hurt anymore. Okay?"

The little girl sniffed and nodded obediently, "Okay."

“Good girl, Zhen’er.” He said, rubbing her knees as he spoke to Qingchen, “She is my youngest sister, only five years old this year. Our parents spoil her, so she’s a bit pampered. But she’s also very sensible.”

Qingchen nodded and said, "Yes. It's clear that you siblings are very close."

The little girl stopped crying as soon as Xu Silin coaxed her. Looking at her brother's bandaged hand, she asked with concern, "Brother, is your hand hurt?"

"Brother's hand is fine." He said, glancing at Qingchen, then suddenly lifted the little girl above his head in a very cool pose, "Brother can lift you this high!"

The little girl was lifted high, and at first she was startled, but soon she was laughing happily.

Born into a wealthy and powerful family, doted on by her parents, and with such a doting older brother, this little girl is truly blessed with immense love and affection; countless people must envy her.

The sunlight shone on the two of them, casting two shadows, one long and one short.

Xu Silin was tall and upright, with an incomparably handsome profile and eyes full of pity and affection for his younger sister.

Seeing this, Qingchen couldn't help but smile slightly. She had to admit that he had a different kind of charm in this situation than usual.

The warm and harmonious atmosphere she was experiencing was something she genuinely envied, as she had no siblings.

"Brother is asking you, have you been getting along well with the sisters in your two aunts' rooms lately? Have you been bullying them?" Xu Silin put the little girl down and pinched her cheek.

The little girl quickly shook her head and said in a clear voice, "No, I listened to my brother and shared the candy with them. Mother also said that the girls in Aunt's room are also sisters, and I can't bully them."

"Hey, that's a good girl." He smiled and patted her head, then looked at Qingchen and said, "Wait here for me for a while, I'll take her back and come right away."

"good."

Looking at the two figures from behind, Qingchen felt a pang of emotion.

The court, controlled by Xu Yan, was rife with intrigue and bloodshed, while his own residence was a picture of harmony and peaceful coexistence.

That was quite unexpected.

After sending the little girl back to her room, Xu Silin gave her a piece of candy and coaxed her, "Zhen-jie, stay in the room and don't run around anymore. Brother has to go have dinner with Lord Shen, so I won't play with you for now."

The little girl took the candy, nodded, and then asked curiously, "Brother, who is that sister you were talking to?"

"Sister?" Xu Silin assumed she was just young and didn't understand, and laughed, "Although he is handsome, he is an older brother, not a sister. He is an older brother's classmate."

The little girl stubbornly shook her head, "She is the older sister."

He pinched her nose helplessly. "Why did you say he was the older sister?"

The little girl stretched out her chubby finger and pointed at his chest, saying, "Her chest is soft, just like Mother's."

Xu Silin's eyelashes fluttered slightly.

...Soft?!