Chapter 271 Sisters
Granny Yan replied with considerable relief, "Originally, the three of us were supposed to be sent back to Yunding Temple by the Marquis, but at that time, Moyang City was attacked and occupied by Xuanyoujun's troops, and chaos broke out both inside and outside the city. So the Marquis temporarily moved the three of us, along with the young lady and others, here, leaving only Shen Gui and Shen Bo to guard the mansion."
Mu Xi thought that it was one thing for Granny Yan and the other two to stay, but Shen Pingting probably wouldn't stay here for three years, so she asked, "Has Shen Pingting been here all along too?"
But Granny Yan nodded: "Yes, the young lady has been staying in Moyang City almost the entire time."
"She's been in Moyang City for three years? What's she doing here?" Mu Xi asked curiously.
The three women, including Granny Yan, looked completely bewildered and could not answer.
Mu Xi knew that even if the three of them were in this secluded courtyard, they would be even more restricted, and it was normal that they knew nothing about Shen Pingting's side. So she didn't ask any more questions.
In the days that followed, Mu Xi and Cao Pan'er acted as if the Fangfei Tower incident had never happened, neither asking about it nor mentioning it again.
Mu Xi was asked by Shen Lun to stay at the mansion under the identity of "Shen Zhixi", and she had no choice but to comply.
Therefore, a few days later, Shen Lun sent several sets of women's clothing.
Although Mu Xi was not used to it, she had no choice but to obey. However, she and Cao Pan'er carefully put away the men's clothes they had changed out of, just in case.
The two escaped from Fangfei Tower at the end of the year, and after staying at Shenlun's residence for only a few days, the New Year arrived.
With the flames of war raging in Yansheng and Moyang City beset by internal and external troubles, no one had the mind to celebrate the New Year. Therefore, the household was unusually low-key and spent the New Year in an ordinary manner.
Once things settled down, Mu Xi became increasingly curious about Shen Lun and Shen Pingting's purpose in staying in Moyang City for the past three years.
But now she is confined to a small courtyard, and apart from Cao Pan'er, Granny Yan, Chaolu, and Xixia, she is basically unable to set foot in other places.
Zhang Mao, dressed as a steward, was ostensibly an official, but in private he must have been Shen Lun's confidant. Whenever Mu Xi wanted to inquire about something or leave the hospital for a walk, Zhang Mao would appear just in time and then subtly persuade her to return to the hospital.
In this way, Mu Xi could truly confirm that she had indeed walked right into a trap and been placed under house arrest by Shen Lun.
Mu Xi had somewhat anticipated this outcome and could accept it for the time being. However, since Doctor Luo and Bao Fan were still outside and she couldn't contact them, she couldn't help but feel worried.
On this day, Mu Xi wore a pale yellow brocade jacket and skirt, her black hair loosely tied up, with a simple jade hairpin inserted diagonally. She leaned against the chaise longue, deep in thought, facing a winter plum tree outside the window.
The Lunar New Year is almost over, and I wonder how Doctor Luo and Bao Fan spent the holiday? How can I contact Doctor Luo discreetly and let him know they are safe and sound?
Just then, footsteps sounded outside. Before the person arrived, the voice came first: "Sister... I've come to see you, sister. Are you inside?"
If not indoors, where else could it be?
Mu Xi recognized Shen Pingting's voice immediately.
Since the beginning of the year, after Shen Pingting learned of Mu Xi's true identity, she changed her previous hostility towards the two identities of "Second Miss" and "Shen Zhixi" and instead tried to befriend her.
During the Chinese New Year, Shen Lun kept a low profile and did not hold a large family banquet, but he did invite Shen Pingting and Mu Xi to have a New Year's Eve dinner together.
During the New Year's Eve dinner, Mu Xi remained silent, while Shen Pingting was very enthusiastic.
Mu Xi couldn't discern anything from Shen Lun's face, yet she had to play the role of "Second Miss" and address Shen Pingting affectionately as "Little Sister." Although she felt awkward inside, she had no choice but to force a smile and keep up the pleasantries.
According to the original owner's memories, Shen Pingting was born only three or four months older than the original owner, but judging from her behavior and mentality, she was far less mature than her.
However, given that Shen Zhixi is ostensibly two or three years younger than Shen Pingting, it's perfectly reasonable for the other party to warmly call her "little sister."
As the words were spoken, the beaded curtain of the inner room was lifted, and Shen Pingting walked in, dressed in a bright red brocade jacket and surrounded by pearls and jade.
Mu Xi had no choice but to get up and greet her: "Why have you come, sister?"
Shen Pingting's pretty face was meticulously made up, making her radiant. She casually waved away the two maids following behind her and sat down on the chaise longue where Mu Xi had been lying without any politeness: "Sister, you seem so relaxed and not bored at all? Sigh... I, on the other hand, have been feeling quite stifled these days, so I came to talk to you."
Upon hearing this, Mu Xi became somewhat wary.
When Shen Pingting started to deliberately befriend her, Mu Xi didn't think much of it, assuming it was just because of the change in their status and that Shen Pingting wanted someone to talk to to relieve her boredom. But as they talked more and more, she vaguely noticed that Shen Pingting was intentionally or unintentionally always mentioning Mu Xun.
Shen Pingting seemed to already know Mu Xun's true identity as the "former grandson of the Prince of Yan," and she was intentionally or unintentionally inquiring about Mu Xun's various affairs.
In order to get information about Mu Xun's whereabouts from Shen Pingting, Mu Xi was willing to befriend her, but despite repeated attempts to probe, Shen Pingting remained tight-lipped.
After a back-and-forth probing, Mu Xi didn't get any useful information, but Shen Pingting managed to get a lot of trivial details about Mu Xun's daily habits and preferences.
Mu Xi didn't speak to Shen Pingting now, but only instructed Chaolu and Xixia to serve tea.
When the tea was served, Shen Pingting unceremoniously dismissed the two women as well, then suddenly looked distressed and said, "Alas, sister, there are some things that I'm afraid can only be discussed between you and me now."
Shen Pingting hadn't come over for quite some time, and Mu Xi had a gut feeling that something must have happened to her. But based on her understanding of Shen Pingting over this period of time, she wasn't in a hurry to ask, and instead waited for the other party to tell her on her own initiative.
Sure enough, Shen Pingting took a sip of the hot tea that had just been served and then put it down in frustration: "Not a single thing is going right."
Even sitting a short distance away from Shen Pingting, Mu Xi could sense the restlessness emanating from her. She followed up by asking, "It is indeed quiet during the holidays with no one around, but that shouldn't cause any worries. Sister, is it because someone in the household is neglecting their duties and has angered you?"
"In the manor? They dare..." Shen Pingting scoffed, but couldn't help herself. She leaned towards Mu Xi and sighed, "Alas, little sister, you don't know, after the New Year, I'll be twenty-five by the Chinese age reckoning. I can't delay any longer."
Mu Xi was genuinely surprised by this topic and couldn't help but ask, "Is the pressure to get married because Uncle is going to betroth my sister to someone?"
Since Shen Pingting knew Mu Xi's original identity and felt sympathy for her past "situation," she didn't hide anything from her now: "I wonder if you know that when I came to Moyang City with my father to celebrate the Lord's birthday, it was actually to find a suitable husband."
Mu Xi knew this, of course, but she didn't pay attention to it at the time.
She feigned surprise and asked, "Oh... really? Did you have your eye on any young masters back then, sister?"
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