Chapter 51. A romantic from the Shen family.
Chapter 51
He Hansheng woke up the next morning.
He lay flat on the round bed in Shen Suining's bedroom, his head was dizzy, his stomach still felt burning, and he felt as if his internal organs had been emptied out, with no strength left in his body.
There was no one beside him. He Hansheng subconsciously tried to get up, but saw Shen Suining curled up in a small ball at the foot of the bed, seemingly still asleep.
"Don't look anymore, Ningning is fine," Shen Heyang said, yawning as he was taking He Hansheng's pulse at the head of the bed. "This little girl stayed up all night watching over you. I just gave her an acupuncture when she wasn't looking, and she's only been asleep for a short while."
He Hansheng was slightly taken aback when he heard that Shen Suining had stayed by his side all night.
Shen Heyang deliberately ignored his expression and only felt He Hansheng's pulse. "Your body is fine, but you vomited for half the night yesterday. Although you had the medicinal wine to protect you, you were still somewhat injured. You need to rest and recuperate for the next two days. Eat more light food, do not drink alcohol, and try not to use your internal energy."
He Hansheng opened his mouth and said softly, "Thank you, Uncle."
The word "uncle" pleased Shen Heyang, who couldn't help but grumble, "You're such a sensible kid, unlike Ningning. Last night, I was only a little late, and she almost started a fight with me. She has no respect for her elders."
After saying that, Shen Heyang turned around, threw a handful of incense into the incense burner and lit it. As the smoke drifted out of the burner, He Hansheng smelled a faint medicinal fragrance.
"This is?"
“Oh, this is the scent of a calming medicine,” Shen Heyang explained. “Ningning has always been a child who can’t sleep all night when she has something on her mind. Even though I gave her acupuncture, I reckon she still can’t sleep soundly. It’s perfect that you can sleep a little longer with this scent. You hurt your stomach yesterday, so you should eat later.”
He Hansheng glanced at Shen Suining and saw that although her eyes were closed, her brows were furrowed, indicating that she could not sleep peacefully.
After hesitating for a moment, He Hansheng still propped himself up against the headboard and voiced his doubts, "Ningning's maternal grandfather... he looks healthy and must have been a martial artist when he was young. He doesn't seem to be sick."
"The old man doesn't really have any physical illness, but his heart is hard to cure. Ever since Madam Zhuang passed away, the old man was so saddened that he fell ill. After recovering, he became a little confused, and his mind is still stuck in the time when Madam Zhuang was still alive. It has become more and more serious in the past two years. He can't even recognize Ningning standing in front of him. He only remembers her when she was a child."
Shen Heyang shook his head with a hint of helplessness and sighed softly, "Ningning and the old man have a very deep relationship. All the wooden items you can see in this Jade Spring Villa, including the swings every few steps in the corridor, were basically made by the old man himself for Ningning when he was young. Before, when the old man couldn't remember people, he would immediately come to his senses as long as he saw Ningning. But what happened yesterday... I'm sure you saw it too."
He Hansheng remained silent, gently stroking Shen Suining's furrowed brows as if no one else was around.
Shen Heyang looked at Shen Suining and couldn't help but sigh again, "Even if she forces a smile in front of others, it's impossible for her not to be moved at all."
He Hansheng's fingertips paused slightly, as if he was suppressing his emotions. "Is there no other way?"
“Since it is a heart ailment, it cannot be cured by medicine,” Shen Heyang said softly. “The Shen family produces many lovers. The old master and Lady Zhuangqing, Brother Yanzhi and Lady Shuyu, all went through hardships together in that chaotic world of warring states and corpses strewn across the land. Their feelings are beyond those of ordinary couples. But in the generation of Sui’an and Ningning, I don’t know if it is because of their different living environment, but I can’t see any signs of their infatuation.”
“However,” Shen Heyang suddenly changed the subject, looking at He Hansheng with a half-smile, “I’ve watched this little girl grow up since she was a child, and I’ve never seen her cry. If I find out one day that you’ve made her cry, I won’t let you off the hook.”
...
Bifeng Hall.
Shen Fengyu drank quite a bit yesterday and didn't wake up until the afternoon. When she opened her eyes, she felt like her head was about to explode.
She quickly tidied herself up, ate a quick bite, and hurriedly went to Yuquan Villa.
Shen Suining had already woken up and was sitting alone by the window, leaning against the windowsill. She seemed to be lost in thought and didn't seem to be in a good mood.
Shen Fengyu thought for a moment, then stepped forward and sat down opposite her, teasingly asking, "Why does Young Master seem a little unhappy today?"
She looked around but didn't see He Hansheng. "Where is Shaojun?"
“I drank too much yesterday and was taken to Jishetang by Shen Heyang,” Shen Suining said in a flat tone. She glanced at Shen Fengyu and asked, “Is something wrong?”
"Well, it's nothing important," Shen Fengyu rubbed her nose, and after confirming that He Hansheng was not there, she spoke to Shen Suining: "Did you know that Xingli left halfway through the banquet yesterday?"
"I know. What's wrong?"
“I heard it from Lingrui today. Yesterday, a swordsman in blue came to our door, saying he wanted to see you. Xingli hurriedly took his men to chase him away,” Shen Fengyu paused, then added, “He said he wanted to see Young Master Shen.”
In the past, Shen Suining always used a false identity when she went out. At most, people would know that she was the head of Bifeng Hall of Shuyu Manor and that her surname was Shen. Her real name and her identity as the young master of the manor were never revealed.
Shen Suining paused slightly, and a look finally appeared on her face. "What's your name?"
"His surname is Duan."
"Duan?" Shen Suining frowned and thought hard for a long time before finally remembering. "I remember now. A few years ago, I went down the mountain alone to investigate something for someone, and I met him a few times."
Shen Fengyu: "Did you tell him your name and identity?"
Shen Suining hummed in agreement, her gaze returning to the distant mountains. "Back then, he had to work hard to earn a living in order to treat his mother and sister's illnesses. At that time, my parents were looking for a husband for me. After he learned that I was from Shuyu Manor, he offered to marry into the family. I saw that he was handsome and skilled, and that he didn't have many family ties besides my mother and sister, so I agreed."
"..." Shen Fengyu twitched the corner of her mouth, secretly thinking to herself: As expected.
"And then what happened?"
"You all know what happened later, don't you?" Shen Suining glanced at her. "They ran away halfway up the mountain."
Shen Fengyu suddenly realized, "So it was him. When I heard you say that he had run away, I thought you were just making up a lie to appease Madam and Master."
Shen Suining remained silent; this memory was too embarrassing for her, and she was unwilling to dwell on it.
In the past, if Shen Suining hadn't wanted to say much, Shen Fengyu naturally wouldn't have asked any questions. But now, not only does the other party know Shen Suining's true identity, but they also came to her door on the day of the young master's marriage. If this person is determined, they will inevitably be able to find out He Hansheng's background in the future. This will be a matter of endless trouble for Shuyu Manor and Yong'an Marquis's Mansion.
Noticing Shen Fengyu's hesitation, Shen Suining clicked her tongue, guessing what she was thinking. Somewhat impatiently, she said, "Just like always, have Xing Li chase him away. What kind of trouble can a lone swordsman like him cause?"
Shen Fengyu sighed; she knew it would turn out this way, and there was nothing more she could say.
After He Hansheng was taken away by Shen Heyang, he did not return to Yuquan Villa for two consecutive days. If Jiang Yuchu had not been there, Shen Suining would probably have thought that he had secretly slipped away.
Shen Suining has been very busy these past few days. She has been away for more than two months, and many affairs within the manor need her to take care of. Especially now that her husband is a marquis, the original principle of Shuyu Manor regarding not getting involved in court politics needs to be revised. At least while Shen Suining and Shen Yan are still in the capital, they can be temporarily exempt from this principle.
It's easy to say, but difficult to convince everyone and effectively prevent potential future problems. So for several days in a row, Shen Suining ran all over the mountain, discussing with the hall masters and leaders of each branch. He almost wore his lips out before finally managing to get their approval.
Shen Suining went to Jishetang last. After all, in this kind of change that had to be made temporarily due to the conflict between private and public affairs, Shen Heyang, as her uncle who was not related to her by blood, was much easier to talk to than the others.
Jishetang is located at the foot of the mountain, not far from the gate of the mountain villa, with dozens of acres of medicinal herb fields in front of the gate.
As Shen Suining walked to the gate of the courtyard, she saw Shen Heyang sitting at the stone table, holding a stone mortar and pestle, grimacing as he mashed his medicine.
She walked in and sat down immediately. "I have something to tell you."
"...No need to inform me, I already know," Shen Heyang waved his hand, his self-awareness very clear. "I always do what you and your mother say, it's kind of you to come all this way."
Shen Suining glanced at him, "What about Yun Wei..."
“Linrong Pavilion is just a place that makes things and doesn’t really get involved in worldly affairs, so she won’t have any objections,” Shen Heyang crushed the herbs and filtered out the clean juice. “As long as your Bifeng Hall, Pavilion Master Wei’s Qianji Pavilion, and your parents’ subordinates agree, this matter is really nothing.”
Shen Suining finally breathed a sigh of relief; the matter was temporarily settled.
Shen Heyang looked up and saw the fatigue on her face and the dark circles under her eyes, knowing that she had probably been running around for this matter for the past two days.
He packed up the medicine container he had prepared, stopped what he was doing, leaned forward slightly, and asked Shen Suining, "You came to see me for more than just this, didn't you?"
“Of course,” Shen Suining glanced at him sideways, arms crossed, “When are you going to return my husband to me?”
Shen Heyang laughed heartily, got up and walked inside.
Jishetang's layout is much simpler than Yuquan Bieyuan and Bishuiyunju, with a spacious courtyard layout, blue bricks and white walls, and a faint fragrance of herbs everywhere.
Shen Heyang led Shen Suining through two courtyards to the Fragrance Garden inside.
Under the osmanthus tree, He Hansheng and Old Lady Shen sat at a long wooden table, which was cluttered with various wooden utensils and tools of different shapes.
He Hansheng was holding a chisel and carving what he was carving. Old Master Shen saw Shen Suining first and waved to her happily, "Ningning, look! Your husband is so good! He has only been learning for a few days and he can already carve a crabapple blossom by himself!"
Old Master Shen recognized Shen Suining immediately today, and even spoke in a very loud and clear voice, which surprised Shen Suining quite a bit.
He Hansheng looked up when he heard the voice, smiled and reached out his hand to her, "You've come."
"So that's why I haven't seen you these past few days. You've been secretly learning here," Shen Suining said, though her face showed some displeasure. She still offered him her hand and sat down on the stool next to him. "How is it? Have you learned your grandfather's signature skills? In his youth, besides being an unparalleled martial artist, he must have been an excellent carpenter as well. If you can learn even a tenth of his skills, you can become rich even if you don't become a marquis in the future, just by renting a shop and working as a carpenter."
Old Master Shen laughed heartily, gently patting Shen Suining's head with his palm-leaf fan, his eyes full of affection, "Do you think my decades of skill can be learned by a young man like you in just a few days?"
The three, young and old, sat side by side under the osmanthus tree, chatting and laughing.
Shen Heyang watched this scene, smiled slightly, hooked a chair with his foot and sat down opposite him, sighing to himself, "I said if this young man really wants to learn, he should go to Linrong Pavilion to be an apprentice for a few days and start from the basics. But the old man just won't agree and insists on teaching him himself."
He turned his head to examine the begonia flower carved in He Hansheng's hand more closely. "It really is a skill passed down from a master craftsman. This begonia flower is carved so lifelike. How is it any different from the old man's?"
Old Master Shen smiled, a hint of relief appearing in his cloudy eyes.
“Ningning loves crabapple blossoms the most,” he said, glancing at Shen Suining and then at He Hansheng. He seemed to be thinking of himself and Madam Zhuang when they were young, and a few unreadable emotions appeared on his face. “Like Madam Zhuang, when she was young, she loved the crabapple blossoms I carved the most.”
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