Chapter 61: The Reward is Coming!
The following morning.
The winter air is chilly, but thankfully the sun is shining today.
Following Shen You's instructions from yesterday, the wisteria and the pothos took the osmanthus flowers to the yard to dry.
In the main room's bedroom, the gauze curtains hung lightly beside the bed, vaguely revealing the shadows on the couch.
Shen You was exhausted the day before, but thankfully he slept soundly until past 7 a.m.
Zuo You and Shen Yao and Chen Qiurong no longer need to maintain appearances, and few people come to Wen Gui Courtyard on ordinary days.
However, there are some exceptions today.
She had just finished her breakfast when a maid from the outer courtyard came to report that Chen Xiangning had arrived.
After rinsing her mouth, Shen You had her things packed up, straightened her skirt, and left the room.
As Chen Xiangning was about to enter through the moon gate, the two sisters looked up and lowered their heads, their eyes meeting.
Shen You smiled and called out, "Ning'er."
"Elder sister," Chen Xiangning saw her, quickened her pace, holding an exquisite wooden box in her hand, a hint of embarrassment in her cool eyes, "I've come to give you a birthday gift."
In fact, Chen Xiangning had come to Wen Gui Courtyard once yesterday, but Shen You was out at the time, so the two of them did not meet.
Sending this birthday gift now would be too late.
Shen You pulled her hand and sat her down at the stone table, ordering someone to prepare tea.
The sunlight was just right, and it wasn't too cold.
Wisteria and pothos were busy drying the osmanthus flowers they had brought back yesterday. Two young maids chatted amongst themselves as they removed the osmanthus stems and spread the flowers out.
Granny Zhao brought over the tea set and asked Shen You with a smile what kind of tea he wanted to drink. Shen You then let Shen Xiangning decide.
Chen Xiangning mentioned Tianxiang Tea, and her gaze unconsciously drifted to the Four Seasons Osmanthus tree in the courtyard.
The tiny buds on the branches are still blooming. A gentle breeze blows, and the petals fall, some landing on the top of the wisteria. The ivy points at her head and laughs at her.
Wen Guiyuan was peaceful and lively, yet not noisy.
Agarwood lingers in my eyes, filled with envy.
After Granny Zhao served the tea, she turned her gaze away and pushed the wooden box in her hand in front of Shen You. "This is a hairpin carved from yellow jade. Eldest sister, do you like it?"
Shen You opened the wooden box. Inside, the hairpin was a bright yellow color, without any impurities, and its texture was clear and slightly translucent. At the top was a small bud made of clusters of osmanthus flowers, which was exquisite and beautiful.
The jade is of exceptional quality, and the craftsmanship is even more remarkable.
It is truly a top-quality product.
Just by looking at this hairpin, one can tell how much thought the person who gave it as a gift put into it.
Shen You's eyes flickered slightly, and she touched the hairpin with her fingertips. The cool temperature of the hairpin reached her lips, and her smile deepened. "Thank you, Ning'er."
Seeing that she liked it, Chen Xiangning secretly breathed a sigh of relief, "It's good that elder sister likes it."
The Marquis of Chengde's family was a wealthy family, so they always had the best of everything. Shen You was not like other unmarried girls and ladies; she owned many estates and shops and had nothing to lack.
Chen Xiangning was originally worried that the yellow jade osmanthus hairpin would not meet her standards.
Shen You smiled and took out the hairpin, then raised her hand to remove a hair ornament that she was wearing in her hair bun, and looked at her, "Ning'er, would you please help me put this hairpin on?"
Chen Xiangning's eyes lit up. "Okay."
She got up and went to Shen You's side, took the yellow jade osmanthus hairpin that Shen You handed her, and carefully inserted the hairpin diagonally into her hair.
The yellow jade was clear and translucent, gleaming softly in the warm winter sunlight, making Shen You's unadorned face shine.
Chen Xiangning smiled even more happily, thinking to herself that her eldest sister looked really good wearing this hairpin.
Is it pretty?
"She's beautiful. My eldest sister is the most beautiful person."
The two sisters smiled at each other, their clear eyes reflecting a dazzling light.
Shen You asked her to sit down, "Ning'er, is there anything you'd like for your birthday next year?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Xiangning was taken aback, her smile fading slightly as she gently shook her head.
From childhood to adulthood, Shen You would give her a gift every year on her birthday, but she failed to protect many of those gifts.
After she turned fourteen, she grew older and learned to argue with Chen Qiurong. However, all the things she had done before had been taken away by Chen Qiurong.
She tried asking and searching, but to no avail.
The thought of Shen You's heartfelt gift being so wasted fills her with a wave of guilt every time she thinks about it.
In front of outsiders, Chen Xiangning always appears aloof and indifferent, but in front of Shen You, she is just like the little girl who lost her kite and cried helplessly by the rockery when she was young.
He could clearly see all kinds of emotions.
But she didn't say it out loud.
Chen Qiurong is Shen Xiangning's biological mother. Although she is strict with Shen Xiangning, a mother's love is genuine.
Shen You and Chen Qiurong could only maintain a superficial relationship, but they understood the difficulty of Shen Xiangning being caught in the middle.
Fearing that Shen You would continue to discuss the topic of birthday gifts, Chen Xiangning did not linger in Wen Gui Courtyard and hastily left under a casual excuse.
Until Chen Xiangning's figure disappeared around the corner of the moon gate, Shen You whispered to Zhao Mama beside him, "Mama, tell Uncle Fang to come to Ruyi Embroidery Building to see me later."
“Yes,” Zhao Mama responded softly, and found a reliable servant to go out of the mansion and deliver a message to Fang Qi.
Green Ivy came from the corner corridor and said, "Miss, the carriage is ready."
“Hmm,” Shen You stood up, put on her cloak, and left Wen Gui Courtyard.
The carriage stopped in front of the Marquis's mansion. As she stepped over the threshold, she seemed to remember something and subconsciously looked at the coachman waiting beside the carriage. Seeing that it was the same coachman as before, she looked away.
However, as she lifted her skirt, stepped onto the stool, and bent down to enter the carriage, she suddenly stopped.
The green ivy beside her asked in confusion, "Miss, what's wrong?"
Shen You quickly lowered the carriage curtain and said, "It's nothing, I'll be fine on my own."
Green Ivy didn't understand, but she didn't question Shen You's words. She obediently agreed and sat outside with the coachman.
And inside the carriage—
The Duke of Zhenguo, who had visited the young lady's boudoir just last night, was now sitting in the middle of the carriage.
Wearing a deep blue brocade robe with wide sleeves and long legs spread wide, he exudes a strong sense of oppression even when sitting down.
However, when those dark, narrow eyes heard the noise and looked at her, the coldness in them vanished, replaced by a gentle warmth.
He reached out to help her, but she subtly avoided him.
Shen You sat on the other side, her clear and innocent eyes looking at him. "Does the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion not have carriages?"
Why do they always come to sit in her car?
Chu Xiao stood up, shamelessly sat down next to her, his long legs pressing against hers, and said, "There are some things I want to tell you."
"What is it?"
“It’s related to Shen Linhui.”
Upon hearing this, Shen You's brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes. "What happened?"
"Do you remember why Shen Linhui returned from Yuzhou?"
“I remember,” Shen You nodded.
Back then, Shen Linhui pretended to be a filial son to Shen Yao and Chen Qiurong, saying that he came back because he missed home.
But what is the reality?
He had accumulated a huge debt in Yuzhou and was being relentlessly pursued. With nowhere left to hide, he traveled thousands of miles back to the capital alone.
"People from Yuzhou have come to collect the debt."
"What?" Shen You was slightly surprised. "They've chased us all the way to Lin'an City?"
Why is there no movement from the Shen family?
Chu Xiao's gaze remained fixed on her face, his eyes deep and intense.
The carriage windows were raised, but the curtains covered them. As the wheels rolled, the cold wind blew the curtains, and sunlight streamed in, casting a pearly halo on the girl's delicate and radiant profile.
Chu Xiao moved even closer to her without making a sound, and could even see the fine downy hairs on her cheeks.
Shen You waited for a long time but did not hear his reply. She raised her eyes slightly and met the man's dark and narrow eyes.
It is as deep as an abyss, yet as gentle as a lake.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she looked away to continue the previous topic, "What's going on with Shen Linhui?"
Chu Xiao lowered his gaze slightly, but his chest pressed against her shoulder, their bodies pressed together.
He was content with the touch, and spoke softly to answer her question, "Chen Qiurong used her dowry to pay off those debts for him."
"A considerable sum."
"Chen Qiurong..."
Shen You suddenly let out a cold laugh.
Chen Qiurong estimated that she had spent a lot of money and manpower to suppress the impact of Shen Linhui's gambling debts.
The mother and son dared not let Shen Yao know, so they had to deal with these things on their own.
Where will the money come from?
Chen Qiurong had to pay for it herself.
Chu Xiao asked her, "Should we tell Shen Yao about this?"
“No need,” Shen You shook his head, “It doesn’t matter.”
She didn't rely on this to deal with Shen Linhui, so this matter wasn't particularly important to her.
But if Chen Qiurong were to give away her dowry, what impact would that have on Shen Xiangning...?
Shen You suddenly remembered his current situation.
She has a dowry left by her mother and property left by her grandmother, so even if she doesn't get married, she won't have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of her life.
But what about agarwood condensation?
If Chen Qiurong abandons her for Shen Linhui, who will care about her?
Shen You pursed her lips, a dark and ambiguous light flashing in her lowered almond-shaped eyes.
The carriage suddenly fell silent; neither of them spoke.
Chu Xiao understood that she had her own considerations, so he didn't disturb her.
The sound of wheels rolling outside drifted in, occasionally accompanied by the shouts of street vendors.
Before long, the shouts faded into the distance, the carriage stopped, and Green Ivy's voice came from outside, "Miss, we've arrived."
Shen You looked up, lifted her skirt and was about to get out of the car, but her wrist was grabbed by a force.
She turned around and met his eyes.
"Shen You, is there no reward?"
A voice that was both aggrieved and full of expectation.
Shen You lowered her eyes and looked at his hand, which was holding her wrist through his sleeve.
He had long, slender joints, and his wheat-colored skin was adorned with slightly protruding blue veins.
She pondered to herself, wondering what kind of reward he wanted.
Before she could even speak, she felt the man's fingers move. His fingertips gently lifted her sleeve, and his warm fingertips caressed the throbbing veins on her wrist. Then, they rubbed against the soft flesh of her palm.
He pulled his fingers apart from hers, clasped them tightly, then raised them up and waved them in front of her.
He looked up at her, his dark eyes shining brightly, filled with undisguised tenderness. "It's time for the reward."
Shen You's heart suddenly went numb, and her breath caught in her throat.
She looked away uncomfortably. "I'm going downstairs."
Upon hearing this, Chu Xiao released her hand and nodded understandingly, "Okay."
"I'll come pick you up later."
Shen You took a deep breath, lifted her skirt, turned around, and stepped off the carriage using a stool.
Beside the carriage, Green Ivy came over to help her and whispered, "Miss, Uncle Fang has arrived."
“Hmm,” Shen You suddenly came to her senses and entered the back door of Ruyi Embroidery Building without turning her head.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com