In early autumn, wild geese from the north fly in a single file across the vast sky, heading for the warmth of the south. The lush summer foliage in the yard begins to wither, and the colorful fish in the pond seem cooler than usual.
The girl's long black hair was combed into a bun with a delicate coral hairpin inserted in it. She was wearing a dark red silk double-nest cloud goose dress, which outlined her slim and graceful figure.
Bai Lu gently draped the embroidered cloak over Shen Miao and said, "Miss, your illness is not yet fully recovered. Be careful not to catch a cold."
Shen Miao shook her head.
She was still small, not as tall as Shen Yue and Shen Qing, and had a round face. Coupled with her timid personality, she seemed a few years younger than her actual age, only about eleven or twelve years old.
But today is a little different.
Frost watched from the side and felt something strange in his heart.
The girl, with a pale complexion, looked petite and delicate. Now, without a trace of a smile on her face, she wasn't cold or naive, but rather aloof, looking at the sky with a hint of nostalgia. She stood as usual, yet with a certain dignity, as if a unique aura had suddenly emerged from nowhere overnight, giving her a somewhat graceful and dignified air.
Shuangjiang shook her head, as if that could dispel the absurd thoughts in her mind. She smiled and looked at Shen Miao: "What are you looking at, young lady?"
Ever since breakfast, Shen Miao has been standing in the yard staring at the sky in a trance.
“I was just wondering if these wild geese flying from the north to the south also passed through the northwest desert,” Shen Miao said softly.
The northwest desert, where Shen Xin was stationed, was home to Madam Shen and Young Master Shen. The letter from home last month said that while the capital had just begun to feel the chill, the northwest was already experiencing withered grass and a light snowfall.
"Young lady, you must be missing the master and the mistress," Shuangjiang said with a smile, "When the New Year comes, the master will be back. When he sees that you have grown taller, I wonder how happy he will be."
Shen Miao smiled, but the corners of her mouth felt a little bitter.
The general who could only return to Dingjing once a year, the first thing he did upon his return was to face the joke of his own daughter who was shameless and wanted to marry herself, and even threatened to commit suicide to force her to marry him. How happy could he be?
What's more, the man she longed to marry was a villain who only wanted to use the Shen family's military power to seize the throne. The battle for the throne was full of mixed people, and the Shen family was unwilling to get involved, but they were dragged into it by her blind love, and finally ended up with a tragic ending that destroyed the entire family.
Shen Miao closed her eyes.
But in just six months, so much had happened. Ever since she came of age, her marriage had become a lever for the East Court to exploit at any moment. It seemed that from that year on, the East Court, like a beast in disguise, had gradually driven her into a dead end, a dead end from which she could not turn back.
"Miss, Miss?" Bai Lu saw that the young master had a strange expression and the knuckles of her fingertips that were holding the cloak turned white, so she couldn't help but call out softly.
Shen Miao came back to her senses and saw Gu Yu trotting over and said, "Miss, someone from Rong Jing Hall is here to urge us."
Rongjing Hall, where Old Madam Shen lived, the old lady sent her maid to see Shen Miao early in the morning. Seeing that Shen Miao was fine, she simply said that she could go and pay her respects to the old lady once she was well. In fact, whether it was a visit or a censure, who didn't know it well?
Shen Miao smiled slightly, tightened her cloak, and said, "Let's go."
In the Shen Mansion, the East Courtyard and the West Courtyard are clearly divided.
When General Shen was alive, he often practiced swordplay and boxing in the empty courtyard of the West Courtyard. Later, General Shen passed away, and Shen Gui and Shen Wan both became civil officials. Only Shen Xin inherited the general's legacy, and the empty courtyard, along with the West Courtyard, was given to Shen Xin. The East Courtyard was spacious, and housed the families of the first and second wives, as well as Old Madam Shen.
In reality, the West Courtyard was even further out than the East Courtyard, lacking in sunlight. Less than half the size of the East Courtyard, it was truly nothing to write home about. Only Chen Xin was cheerful all day, feeling like he'd gotten a great bargain just by acquiring that vacant plot of land. Both Chen Xin and Madam Shen came from military families, and their tastes were simple: white walls and black tiles, a simple, unadorned style. It couldn't compare to the refined elegance of the East Courtyard's renovations.
Shen Miao had once been very dissatisfied with the West Courtyard occupied by her family, envying the elegance and loveliness of the East Courtyard, and secretly resented Shen Xin for this. Now, it seemed that she was actually laughing at her own ignorance.
Although my own yard is simple, it is not shabby. It shows an open-minded state of mind everywhere. It is not like those monsters and demons in the East Courtyard, which are just beautiful on the outside but rotten on the inside.
After turning around the long corridor and passing through the exquisitely trimmed garden, you will arrive at the entrance of Rongjing Hall.
Perhaps to highlight its scholarly atmosphere, Rongjing Hall is decorated with great elegance. A plaque with the words "Bamboo Heart Elegance" hangs at the entrance, and the copper handles crafted from pine and crane are delicate and graceful.
"The fifth lady is here." Xier said beside Old Lady Shen.
Shen Miao stepped into Rongjing Hall.
Rongjing Hall was a scene of joy, with almost everyone present. Ren Wanyun, the second wife of the Shen family, and Chen Ruoqiu, the third wife of the Shen family, stood below the old lady. Shen Qing sat next to the old lady, holding a plate of snacks. On the other side sat Shen Yuanbai, the younger brother of the Shen family's second branch. Shen Yuanbai, only five years old, grabbed a snack and started stuffing it into the old lady's mouth, making her laugh so hard that she fell backwards.
No one seemed to notice Shen Miao's appearance until Shen Yue said with a smile, "Why did Fifth Sister come just now? Seventh Brother was about to finish eating the steamed cheese."
Shen Miao nodded: "I think I'm not fully recovered yet. I felt a little dizzy after walking a few steps. I rested for a while on the way, so I'm late."
Everyone in Rongjing Hall fell silent.
If Shen Yue wanted to say that she was too late to come, she was not afraid to point out that Old Madam Shen was taking advantage of her seniority and asking people to come and pay their respects regardless of her granddaughter's health.
After a moment, Ren Wanyun smiled and said, "I think Xiaowu is really weak. He has been to the doctor twice in the past few days. Fortunately, he seems to be fine now."
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