“Young Master, Young Miss, this girl says she’s looking for you,” the doctor gently pushed forward the young girl.
The girl appeared around seven or eight years old and showed no timidity. She carried an exquisite gauze lantern depicting an elegant lady sitting before a Go board, one hand holding up her sleeve while the other held a Go piece – the likeness was perfect.
It reminded Shen Xihe of that game she hadn’t quite won fairly in the Apricot Grove of the white-haired elder in Luoyang.
“Miss Shen, this is from a gentleman surnamed Hua,” the young girl spoke clearly, handing the lantern to Shen Xihe. “He asked me to tell you: may you be as complete as the moon year after year.”
“Biyu,” Shen Xihe took the lantern. Biyu rewarded the girl with twenty copper coins, and the little girl bowed repeatedly in thanks.
Just as the young girl walked out the door, someone came running over: “Sister Xihe, Sister Xihe, I knew I wasn’t mistaken!”
It was none other than Xue Jinqiao with her maid Caocao.
“Sister Xihe, you’re also here to view the moon? Let me accompany you! I know where to find the best flatbread, the finest wine, the fullest moon…” Xue Jinqiao completely overlooked Shen Yun’an’s presence, staring eagerly at Shen Xihe.
Shen Yun’an: …
This lady’s gaze at his sister was more intense than any man’s.
“No,” Shen Xihe rejected coldly as usual.
Xue Jinqiao’s little mouth pouted again: “Sister Xihe…”
“Ahem!” Shen Yun’an coughed heavily.
Xue Jinqiao seemed to finally notice another person present. Looking at Shen Yun’an, she frowned slightly: “May I ask who this gentleman is?”
Shen Xihe: “My elder brother.”
Xue Jinqiao, who had initially thought Shen Yun’an looked like a rough fellow, suddenly found him tall and imposing: “Ah, Sister Xihe’s brother.”
She quickly adopted a ladylike demeanor, giving Shen Yun’an a slightly coy bow: “Greetings, Brother Shen.”
Shen Yun’an: …
If this lady hadn’t so obviously forced her voice when calling him, he might have found it more sincere.
“This is Miss Seven of the Xue family.”
“Miss Seven is too formal,” Shen Yun’an returned the bow.
“Brother Shen, let’s go view the moon together,” Xue Jinqiao had apricot-shaped eyes filled with water, bright and clear.
Though Miss Xue Seven looked expectant and enthusiastic, Shen Yun’an only lost his wits around his sister. He could see at a glance that Miss Xue’s true intention wasn’t the moon viewing – she wanted to invite his sister.
“Thank you for your kind invitation, Miss Seven, but my sister is frail, the night grows deep and cool, I must take her home,” Shen Yun’an knew his sister best – she disliked socializing.
“Is Sister Xihe so weak?” Xue Jinqiao showed no disappointment at being refused, focusing instead on Shen Xihe’s poor health, genuine concern evident in her eyes.
Shen Xihe could feel her genuine concern, and though she didn’t know why she had caught the girl’s eye, such things were common in the Northwest. She responded sincerely: “Yes.”
“Then hurry home, and without even wearing a cloak…” Xue Jinqiao began to fuss.
Shen Xihe, who usually detested people’s chatter, didn’t interrupt her, allowing her to mutter while accompanying her and her brother downstairs.
Watching her get into the carriage, Xue Jinqiao spotted the gauze lantern in Biyu’s hands: “Sister Xihe, this lantern is unique, why don’t you give it to me?”
Shen Xihe had been planning to find somewhere to discard it anyway, so since Xue Jinqiao wanted it, she gestured for Biyu to give it to her.
After Shen Xihe’s carriage departed, Xue Jinqiao suddenly smashed the lantern to the ground and stomped on it: “Hmph, what a scoundrel, daring to have designs on my Sister Xihe!”
The reason Xue Jinqiao had found Shen Xihe was that she too had noticed this lantern and thought it would suit Shen Xihe perfectly. She had wanted to buy it as a gift, but someone had beaten her to it. She had originally wanted to catch up and ask if they would let her have it.
Due to the crowded streets, she had only seen someone give the lantern to a young flower seller and send her up. She had spotted Shen Xihe from downstairs, and though she thought she had missed her chance at the lantern, seeing Shen Xihe was good enough – until she saw the lantern being given to Shen Xihe.
She knew a man had bought it!
“Miss Seven…” Caocao watched her mistress’s jealousy with her scalp tingling. “The Princess is a lady…”
“Of course, I know she’s a lady,” Xue Jinqiao gave her maid a look as if wondering why she would say something so stupid.
Caocao finally understood she had overthought things.
Unexpectedly, her mistress continued: “She doesn’t pay attention to me, if I became her sister-in-law, would she spend time with me?”
Caocao’s eyes widened, her lips trembling, not knowing what to say.
She had always known her mistress had strange ideas, stubborn behavior, and a difficult personality, often doing inexplicable things, but she never imagined she would be this crazy!
“M-m-miss Seven, the Heir is returning to the Northwest, even if you married him you’d have to follow him there!” Caocao had a sudden inspiration.
Sure enough, Xue Jinqiao’s face fell: “That won’t do, I want to stay with her.”
Caocao’s pretty face wrinkled with worry, not understanding why her mistress had fallen for the Princess at first sight – no, no, become such fast friends with her, especially after that day when the Princess had punished Hu Yingrao. Miss Seven had practically treated the Princess as her ideal match.
She spent all day thinking of ways to get close to the Princess, trying to climb into the Princess’s mansion every few days and had been carried back to the Xue family by the Princess’s guards several times already.
In her view, the Princess should consider their mistress the biggest scoundrel!
Shen Xihe didn’t know that Xue Jinqiao had even set her sights on Shen Yun’an to get closer to her. When she returned to the Princess’s mansion, she saw Tianyuan standing in the courtyard holding a lantern.
It was an extremely beautiful lantern made of white jade inlays, dazzling and pure as ice in a jade vase.
From a distance, it looked just like holding up a bright moon.
“Princess, His Highness made a lantern,” Tianyuan quickly handed the lantern to Shen Xihe. “May clear moonlight forever accompany you at your side.”
“Officer Cao, men, and women should maintain proper distance. My sister cannot accept gifts from His Highness the Crown Prince,” Shen Yun’an intercepted first.
“The Heir need not worry, His Highness made three lanterns – one was given to His Majesty, one to the Empress Dowager, so it’s not an improper exchange,” Tianyuan explained calmly. “His Highness rarely has anyone he can give gifts to, I hope the Princess won’t refuse and cause His Highness to become dejected. His Highness’s health is already poor…”
The Crown Prince truly had few who dared accept his gifts besides the Emperor and Empress Dowager. Since it wasn’t given to her alone, Shen Xihe accepted it: “Please convey my thanks to His Highness… Officer Cao, please wait a moment.”
Shen Xihe turned and had Biyu pack some flatbread, giving it to Tianyuan: “These are some flatbread I made, consider it a return gift.”
“Hey, those were made for me!” Shen Yun’an watched helplessly as Tianyuan left with the food box.
Perhaps it was his imagination, but after he spoke, Tianyuan seemed to walk even faster!
Tianyuan had to hurry – bringing back the flatbread would surely earn him a great reward!
His poor master – to conceal his identity, he even had to send out two lanterns, and one had already been discarded!