If nothing else, the fact that Ji Cheng was a young lady from a respectable family was enough to make Fang Xuan envious. She might have other ambitions, but which woman hasn’t longed for a pair of arms to shelter her from the wind and rain? Especially when those arms belonged to someone like Shen Che. Fang Xuan gazed at Shen Che’s back, almost entranced.
“What is there about me to envy?” Ji Cheng tidied her hair. Even if she was envied, it was because others didn’t know the truth inside. It seemed everyone had their own difficult story.
Fang Xuan slightly lifted her veiled hat, smiled at Ji Cheng, and then glanced at Shen Che’s back. Such a mischievous hint was hard for Ji Cheng to misunderstand.
Ji Cheng wondered if Madam Fang was feeling jealous. She believed that her interaction with Shen Che just now had been very natural, showing no signs of impropriety. Ji Cheng sincerely hoped that Shen Che and Fang Xuan could be together happily, which might help improve his twisted psychology. Madam Fang seemed to be a kind and gentle person, and Shen Che surely wouldn’t want her to know his true face.
Only by grasping Shen Che’s weakness could Ji Cheng feel more at ease.
Thinking of this, Ji Cheng immediately made an alarmed expression to Fang Xuan, “I’m getting engaged in a couple of days.”
Ji Cheng’s manner clearly showed that her fiancé was not Shen Che. Fang Xuan was surprised. Could it be that she wasn’t the ‘Cheng’ closest to Shen Che’s heart? But when Fang Xuan looked at Ji Cheng, she felt that if she wasn’t that ‘Cheng’, then there wouldn’t be any other ‘Cheng’ in the world.
Ji Cheng noticed Fang Xuan’s surprise and moved closer, whispering, “Although I live in the Shen mansion, I don’t have many chances to see Cousin Che. He treats all of us sisters with proper etiquette.”
The more Ji Cheng spoke this way, the more surprised Fang Xuan became. As they say, even the wisest can make mistakes. No matter how clever Ji Cheng was, she couldn’t guess what Shen Che would mumble in his delirium when seriously injured. She only thought Fang Xuan was testing her because she was fairly good-looking and lived in the Shen family, so she tried her best to distance herself.
Ji Cheng didn’t know that Fang Xuan was wondering what problem had occurred between her and Shen Che.
“We’re here,” Shen Che’s voice came from three feet away, unusually cool. Ji Cheng had to stop talking.
No matter how difficult it was to book a private room at the Ju Xing Lou, it wasn’t a problem for Shen Che. Soon, the manager came forward enthusiastically, personally settling them in a private room on the top floor overlooking the river.
Once in the room, Fang Xuan removed her veiled hat. Shen Qian, looking at her appearance, gradually withdrew the contempt from her face.
Fang Xuan had this kind of beauty, so beautiful that it even made you think that being a courtesan was an enviable experience.
At this point, Shen Che finally introduced Fang Xuan to Shen Qian.
Shen Qian covered her mouth in surprise, “You, you’re the great Madam Fang?” Shen Qian had been learning to play the zither with Aunt Hanbi since she was little and had heard Fang Xuan’s name countless times from her, admiring her for a long time. Not to mention the flute music that could move ghosts and gods at the South Commandery Prince’s Lotus Banquet two days ago.
Shen Qian was so embarrassed that she almost wanted to find a crack in the ground to hide in. Her face was flushed red as she stammered an apology to Fang Xuan.
However, Shen Qian only felt awkward for a short while before quickly reverting to her chatty, girlish demeanor, clinging to Fang Xuan to talk.
Ji Cheng and Shen Che sat to the side, one lowering her head to drink tea, the other contentedly watching Fang Xuan and Shen Qian chat.
Shen Qian admired Fang Xuan immensely in her heart, asking question after question. In no time at all, she had gone from addressing her as “Madam Fang” to “Sister Fang”. “Sister Fang, I didn’t expect you to come release lanterns on the Ying River too. I can hardly believe it.”
Fang Xuan said, “Why not? I’m a woman too. In the past, I used to come to the Ying River every year to release lanterns and pray for blessings. Now, after being away from the capital for so many years, I’ve returned just in time for the Qixi Festival. How could I not come to release lanterns?”
Shen Qian nodded, “Then Sister Fang, you must have prepared five-colored threads too, right?”
Fang Xuan smiled without answering, but Shen Qian was already eagerly asking, “Who did you give your five-colored threads to tonight?”
Fang Xuan still didn’t answer, only smiling and looking at Shen Qian’s shoulder.
Shen Qian turned her head suspiciously, trying hard to look at her own back. “Ah!” A five-colored thread had appeared on her shoulder without her noticing.
Shen Qian laughed, “Sister Fang, it’s such a waste to give your five-colored thread to me. Today is the Qixi Festival, after all.”
Fang Xuan said, “The five-colored thread, the thread of affection, was originally meant to express feelings between women. It was first exchanged between sisters, meaning mutual care and lifelong sisterhood. Isn’t it appropriate for me to give it to you?”
These words made Shen Qian incredibly happy. She also took one of her five-colored threads from her sachet and pinned it on Fang Xuan. As she turned her head, she suddenly noticed a silver flash at the back of Ji Cheng’s collar and cheerfully said, “Sister Cheng, you have one on your back too.”
Ji Cheng turned to look but couldn’t find it. Shen Qian simply walked over and pulled out the five-colored thread from her collar. “Sister Fang is amazing. Neither of us noticed.”
It’s no wonder Shen Qian mistook Ji Cheng’s five-colored thread as one pinned by Fang Xuan. When they came out, they were surrounded by maids and servants, afraid something might go wrong. No one else had the chance to get close enough to pin a five-colored thread on them.
Hearing Shen Qian’s words, Ji Cheng smiled gratefully at Fang Xuan, but Fang Xuan felt undeserving and shook her head with a smile, “I haven’t had the chance to pin a five-colored thread on Miss Ji yet.”
“Oh, then who was it?” Shen Qian asked casually, her attention still fully on Fang Xuan. But she also asked in passing, “Sister Cheng, where’s your five-colored thread?”
Ji Cheng put down her teacup and said, “Oh, I forgot again. It’s mainly because we don’t have the custom of five-colored threads in Northern Jin. I’m still not used to it.”
Shen Qian said, “I reminded you yesterday. What if you meet Young Master Liu? Where would you find a thread of affection then?”
Ji Cheng glanced at Shen Che from the corner of her eye, smiled to herself, and didn’t answer.
Fang Xuan, having grown up in a brothel, was most adept at reading people’s expressions. Seeing this situation, she calmly began telling Shen Qian about her experiences in the Western Regions. Not only was Shen Qian immediately drawn in, but even Ji Cheng became fascinated after listening for a while. She too wished she could travel to the Western Regions, to see the world, but it was just a dream.
As the night deepened, it was well past Shen Qian’s bedtime. After yawning twice, under her brother Shen Che’s dismissive gaze, she had to stand up and bid farewell to Fang Xuan. Ji Cheng was naturally glad to stand up, eager to leave as quickly as possible.
As Shen Qian was leaving, she stood on tiptoe and whispered in Fang Xuan’s ear, “See you next time, little sister-in-law.” Although her voice was low, it caused the other three people present to change their expressions, though they quickly returned to normal, so quickly that Shen Qian didn’t notice.
After leaving Ju Xing Lou, the innocent and carefree look on Shen Qian’s face disappeared completely. She suddenly sighed, “Sister Cheng, with such a beautiful confidante like Sister Fang, how will the future Second Madam fare when she enters the family? What if there’s a conflict?”
Ji Cheng thought to herself, your Second Brother surely has a thousand ways to control your Second Sister-in-law, there’s no possibility of conflict. However, Ji Cheng still said aloud, “Cousin Che isn’t an unclear person.”
Shen Qian sighed, “I think Miss Dong also has a formidable personality.” This was the second time Shen Qian mentioned Miss Dong.
Ji Cheng couldn’t help but be curious, “Who is Miss Dong?”
Shen Qian whispered in Ji Cheng’s ear, “I overheard it while napping in Great-grandmother’s room the other day. It seems she’s from Great-grandmother’s maiden family, with a proper family background and strict rules. Only such a sister-in-law might be able to keep my Second Brother in check.”
Ji Cheng thought to herself, so there’s this matter too. No wonder Fang Xuan kept talking about leaving. Ji Cheng thought that the Old Madam was wise for a lifetime but was confused at that moment. No matter how proper Miss Dong’s family background was, she would probably find it difficult to restrain Shen Che. Shen Che’s true restraint was only with Fang Xuan.
When Ji Cheng and the others returned to the Shen mansion, the Old Madam had already gone to sleep, so they didn’t need to pay their respects. She went directly to the side hall to change her clothes.
Ji Cheng had long forgotten about the five-colored thread pinned on her. When she was undressing herself, she accidentally touched the needle tip, feeling a slight pain, but fortunately, it didn’t draw blood. Ji Cheng pulled off the five-colored thread of unknown origin and was about to throw it into the trash bin, but was quickly stopped by Nan Gui.
“Miss, I think this five-colored thread seems to have been pinned on you by the Young Master,” Nan Gui said.
Ji Cheng turned her head stiffly to look at Nan Gui, “Are you sure you didn’t see wrong?” Ji Cheng already believed it three-tenths in her heart. Nan Gui was trained in martial arts and had much better eyesight than ordinary people. Moreover, Ji Cheng had wondered how the five-colored thread had flown onto her body when no one could get close. If it was Shen Che, that would explain it.
Nan Gui thought for a moment. With the Second Young Master’s martial arts skills, if he wanted to hide it from her, she definitely wouldn’t have seen it. The Second Young Master had done it intentionally at that time. “I shouldn’t have seen wrong.”
Ji Cheng suddenly burst into laughter, as if she had encountered something incredibly funny. She waved her hand to dismiss Nan Gui, but tears slid down her laughing face. So her intuition hadn’t been wrong; Shen Che indeed hadn’t intended to let her go.
As an unmarried woman, Ji Cheng had already been unchaste, but in the future, when she became someone’s wife, she didn’t want to be shamed again. It was clear as day that Shen Che would surely enslave her while looking down on her “wantonness”. In comparison, even courtesans seemed nobler than her. At least they had clear prices, and those who did well could even be picky about their patrons.
Ji Cheng rummaged through her sewing basket for scissors. Cutting the five-colored thread into inch-long pieces wasn’t enough to vent her anger. She threw the thread segments into the candle flame, burning them to ashes before stopping. She gritted her teeth, thinking that if Shen Che dared to humiliate her again, she wouldn’t hesitate to make a scene, even if it meant perishing together.
But this was just a shrew’s thinking. If she made a scene, in the end, only she would bear the infamy after death.
Just as Ji Cheng’s anger was boiling, Fang Xuan’s southbound boat had already started to row.
Bing Ling stood beside Fang Xuan, who was gazing at the shore in a daze, and said, “Miss, if you can’t let go, why are you in such a hurry to head south?”
Fang Xuan said softly, “He has already let go.”
Bing Ling hurriedly said, “How could that be? I originally thought the Second Young Master’s affections had shifted to that of Miss Cheng, but from what I saw today, there doesn’t seem to be anything between them. During your time in the capital, the Second Young Master has been attentive and caring towards you. It’s you, Miss, whose heart is too hard.”
In matters of love, outsiders may not see as clearly as those involved. Only those in the midst of it are most sensitive. “The Second Young Master takes care of me out of pity, nothing more.”