Chapter 40 The Warmth of Fingertips
I don't recall ever seeing him eat candied fruit or preserves when he was taking medicine at the Shen residence.
Chu Xiao's expression was somewhat unnatural.
Mu Geng quickly chimed in, "I was afraid that my lord would find it too bitter, so I prepared a few candied fruits." After thinking for a moment, he added, "But my lord has never eaten them."
This was like trying to hide something obvious. Shen You's gaze darted back and forth between the master and servant, her lips pressed together as she suppressed a smile.
The candles were lit, making it as bright as day.
Chu Xiao raised his hand and frowned, then said coldly, "Get out."
"Okay," Mu Geng hurriedly left, making sure to close the door behind him.
The two of them were left alone in the room again.
The awkward atmosphere, tinged with undercurrents, has completely dissipated.
Shen You placed the lacquer tray on the wooden table next to Chu Xiao, her voice tinged with laughter, "Drink your medicine, Duke, who isn't afraid of bitterness."
Chu Xiao looked up at her, then reached out and touched the rim of the bowl.
Not too hot, just right.
Without the slightest hesitation, he held the bowl with his long fingers, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp.
A bowl of medicine evoked the resolute spirit of a warrior cutting off his own arm.
This time, Shen You really smiled.
Her beautiful eyebrows curved, and the candlelight reflected a captivating light in her eyes.
She pushed the small porcelain dish toward him, deliberately saying, "This medicine looks very bitter, Your Excellency. Why don't you try this candied fruit?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Xiao wiped his hands with a handkerchief, picked up the cherry preserves from the porcelain plate, and fed them directly to her mouth.
Everything happened so fast that Shen You hadn't even had time to react.
The warmth of the man's fingertips touched her briefly before leaving, leaving only the cherry.
The sweet and sour taste filled her entire mouth.
——
The candlelight in the study was still burning, and moonlight streamed through the window, falling on the man's shoulder.
Chu Xiao lowered his eyelashes, staring blankly at his fingertips.
The soft touch seemed to still linger, as if carrying the girl's unique fragrance.
His eyes darkened as he picked up a piece of osmanthus-flavored hawthorn preserve.
The aroma traveled from his fingertips into his mouth.
The girl he fed a piece of dried cherry had already boarded the carriage to return home.
The wheels rolled on, and the curtains swayed.
The bright lights of the bustling city shone through the window onto Shen You's hairpin, creating a dazzling glow.
Her face was serene and beautiful, and she looked completely natural, but her fingertips, hidden in her sleeves, were clenched tightly.
Before long, the carriage stopped in front of the Chengde Marquis's residence.
"Young lady, we've arrived."
The coachman's voice came, and Shen You finally came to his senses.
Too much had happened today. Upon returning to the Marquis's residence, she would inevitably face Shen Yao's questioning. She didn't have much time to dwell on that brief encounter.
Sure enough, as soon as she stepped off the carriage and across the threshold, Steward Liu was already waiting at the door, whispering, "Young lady, the master requests your presence."
After passing through corridors and pavilions, Shen You arrived at the main hall.
As soon as they approached the door, they heard Chen Qiurong's voice from inside, "Husband, today's incident has caused such a big commotion, now the whole of Lin'an knows about the relationship between the eldest daughter and the Duke."
She sighed, her voice tinged with the helpless concern of an elder for their child, "This child is really something... such a big thing, and they've never told us about it..."
"It's all my fault that caused the eldest daughter to have a grudge against this family."
Shen You paused slightly, his expression cold and indifferent. Seeing no response from inside, he stepped into the main hall.
"Father."
Shen Yao lowered his eyes to drink his tea. Hearing her voice, he looked up and replied in a deep voice, "You're back."
“Yes,” Shen You bowed slightly, then got up and sat down on the armchair next to him.
Shen Yao put down his cup, adopting a parental posture, and said, "I already know what happened at today's flower viewing banquet. All these years, you actually..."
Before he could finish speaking, he looked at Shen You, and when he saw her clear and bright eyes, he inexplicably stopped talking.
When he spoke again, his tone softened. "It was your own choice to marry into the south back then. I have indeed paid less attention to you these past few years, but you have been back in the capital for so long, and the Duke of Zhenguo is now living in our residence. You really shouldn't keep this relationship a secret."
"Yes," Shen You replied indifferently upon hearing this.
She neither admitted her mistake nor offered any explanation.
What has happened today is what it is.
It was only now that Chen Yao seemed to realize his neglect of her.
But his neglect of Shen You wasn't just limited to these two years.
Seeing that she didn't say much, Shen Yao coughed lightly, and then remembered to ask about the framing and grievances she had suffered at the flower viewing banquet today. "I heard that the man who trespassed into the Yong'an Marquis's mansion was arrested by the Duke of Zhenguo?"
Shen You nodded.
Did he say anything?
Speaking of this, Shen You raised his head, glanced at Chen Qiurong's face, and said, "She confessed that she was acting under someone's orders."
"Moreover, he recognized the person behind the scenes, and the Duke of Zhenguo has already sent people to arrest him. I believe they will be brought back soon."
She seemed to be answering Shen Yao's question, but her gaze remained fixed on Chen Qiurong.
Upon hearing this, the latter remained calm and even echoed a few words, "Impersonating a court official is a serious crime. Such a person, once arrested, would be sentenced to at least a year in prison."
They were kept in the dark before, but now that they know Chu Xiao is Shen You's ex-husband, and that at today's flower viewing banquet, it seems that Chu Xiao still has feelings for Shen You.
Under such circumstances, Chen Qiurong also knew how to be opportunistic. What she did behind Shen You's back was one thing, but in front of Shen You, she would definitely side with her.
But she has always acted this way, and Shen You usually doesn't agree with her.
However, today...
Shen You smiled and agreed, "Madam is right."
Chen Qiurong looked at her in surprise, somewhat taken aback. Shen Yao, who was standing to the side, nodded and said, "This case is being handled personally by the Duke of Zhenguo, so Youyou need not worry."
After saying that, he glanced at the sky outside and tentatively asked, "Has the Duke said when he will return?"
The two had a past relationship, and Chu Xiao still had feelings for Shen You, so it would be wonderful if they could get back together.
Thinking of this, Shen Yao couldn't help but feel overjoyed.
Although the Shen family held the title of Marquis, by his generation they had lost their official positions, which meant they were inferior to others and could not protect Shen Linhui's path to officialdom through the imperial examinations, nor could they ensure that the Marquis's reputation would be established and spread far and wide.
But if Chu Xiao could become his son-in-law, then all these troubles would disappear.
From then on, he would be able to look down from his high position in the palace and in this city of Lin'an.
"It's getting late, how about we have the kitchen prepare some soup and snacks?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen You's eyes turned cold. "Father, the Duke of Zhenguo will not come again."
Shen Yao's expression suddenly changed. "What do you mean by that?"
Shen You stood up and stared at him intently. "Today at the Criminal Investigation Department, I already discussed with the Duke of Zhenguo that he would return to the Duke's Mansion to recuperate."
"You..." Shen Yao gasped for breath, but couldn't find the words to refute her. After a long pause, he finally stammered, "Is this how you treat a guest?"
Shen You sneered inwardly.
Does she really think she can't see through Shen Yao's intentions?
She didn't say anything more, gave a curt bow indifferently, and then turned and left the main hall to return to Wen Gui Courtyard.
——
It's already early August, and the nights are cool with a gentle breeze.
Beneath the corridor, the girl's skirt billowed gracefully in the wind.
Shen You lowered his eyes, lost in thought.
Judging from Chen Qiurong's expression just now, she probably didn't know about Shen Linhui and Wang Meng's affair. She was also likely kept in the dark about Shen Linhui's return to Lin'an City.
In that case, Shen Linhui will have one less person to help him hide, and the Criminal Investigation Department will be able to find him more quickly.
However, to Shen You's surprise, Shen Linhui came to him on his own without the Criminal Investigation Department even having to look for him.
The next day, it was past mid-Shenshi (3-5 PM).
Shen Linhui, dressed in tattered clothes, staggered and collapsed at the gate of the Marquis's mansion.
The servant guarding the gate was so frightened when he saw that it was the young master who had not returned home for a long time that he did not know what to do. He hurriedly called out Steward Liu.
Chen Qiurong came out upon hearing the noise and nearly collapsed when she saw Shen Linhui in this state. "What are you all standing there for!"
"Quickly take the young master back to Songtao Courtyard!"
"Summon the imperial physician to Songtao Courtyard!"
Her son, who was the damned one who caused him to end up like this?
In Songtao Courtyard, the servants were busy at work.
Chen Qiurong sat on the edge of the bed, twirling a handkerchief and sighing, asking Steward Liu, "Has the master not returned yet?"
Butler Liu replied, "I've already sent someone to invite them; it should be ready soon."
The royal physician took Shen Linhui's pulse at the bedside and said after a moment, "Madam, please rest assured, the young master is just a little weak from not eating for too long, he'll recover soon..."
"Whoosh—"
On the bed, Shen Linhui suddenly took a deep breath and sat up abruptly.
Chen Qiurong was startled by him, but quickly recovered and rushed over, "Hui'er, Hui'er, don't scare your mother..."
Shen Linhui turned to look at her, and after a moment burst into tears, “Mother, I’m so hungry, please give me something to eat.”
"I'm starving to death."
"Okay, okay..."
Before Chen Qiurong could ask him why he had become like this, she turned around and sternly ordered the servants, "Hurry up! Have the kitchen prepare the dishes that the young master likes, and bring them over quickly."
Fifteen minutes later, the servants brought dishes into the main room of Songtao Courtyard.
Shen Linhui had already finished washing up and changed his clothes.
Aside from being too hungry to talk much, there was no trace of the disheveled state he had just displayed on his face.
"Eat slowly, Hui'er," Chen Qiurong said, sitting down next to him and watching him wolf down his food.
After all, he was her own son, and she had doted on him since he was little. Just seeing him wolfing down his food like a starving ghost made Chen Qiurong feel terrible.
"Burp..." Only after putting down his chopsticks and letting out a satisfied burp was Shen Linhui finally satisfied. He turned to Chen Qiurong and began his performance.
“Mother, you have no idea how hard I’ve worked these past few days,” he said, pinching himself hard in his sleeve. Then, remembering how miserable it had been hiding in the mountains a few days ago, he looked at Chen Qiurong with tears in his eyes.
Chen Qiurong felt extremely distressed. "Hui'er, it's alright. We're home now."
"Tell your mother what exactly happened. Didn't they say that Jin Xia was coming back this summer?"
Shen Linhui stood up and took a few steps inside, then, completely abandoning any semblance of a young master, sprawled out on the recliner, "Mother..."
"My little brother is back?"
Shen Linhui was gathering his emotions and about to cry when he was interrupted by a clear, cold female voice from outside.
Shen You and Shen Yao entered through the door one after the other, with Shen Xiangning following behind.
When Shen Linhui saw Shen Yao, he couldn't help but swallow, feeling a little nervous.
But the thought that he had always worn a bamboo hat when he went out, and that no one had seen his face, whether it was at the Liuli Pavilion that day or when he met Wang Meng later, made him feel more confident.
He threw himself down at Shen Yao's feet, pouring out his grievances.
"Father, I originally wanted to give you and Mother a surprise..."
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