Shen Yu’s heart sank. “Are you also…?”
Shen Che shook his head, “Big Brother, you’re overthinking. The reason I won’t help you is that Ji Cheng is not a suitable choice for your wife.”
“Why?” Shen Yu asked.
Shen Che pondered for a moment before saying, “The Ji family is currently cooperating with Yuan Qian, the Governor of North Jin, to privately manufacture and sell weapons to the Western Regions.”
Shen Yu’s eyes widened, but he didn’t interrupt, waiting for Shen Che to continue. However, his mind was already in turmoil. Shen Yu was a man who couldn’t tolerate any misconduct, and the Ji family’s actions were tantamount to treason.
“A few years ago, the Ji family rebuilt their fortunes by illegally dealing in weapons. They’ve stopped in recent years, but while these vermin should be eliminated, now is not the time. With the Northern Hu about to revolt, we can’t afford any issues in the Western Regions. We can only use the Ji family to divide the forces in the Western Regions, and when the time comes to settle accounts, even if they escape the death penalty, they won’t avoid punishment,” Shen Che explained.
Shen Che’s words were so clear that Shen Yu understood completely. Marrying into the Ji family would certainly implicate the Shen family if the matter came to light in the future. Therefore, Ji Cheng was not a suitable match.
Although Ji Lan was also from the Ji family, she had been married to the Shen family for over twenty years, and the Ji family’s recent actions had nothing to do with her. So even if something happened to the Ji family, she wouldn’t be much affected. But Ji Cheng was different. Many things had been accomplished through her hands, and Shen Yu was the eldest son of the Shen family’s second branch, crucial to the family’s continuation. How could the choice of his wife not be cautious?
After leaving Nine Li Courtyard, Shen Yu didn’t return to Chang Heng Courtyard. Ruixue was sewing undergarments for Shen Yu by lamplight, her head bowed. It wasn’t until late at night that she saw a drunken Shen Yu being supported in by his attendant.
Ruixue hurried forward to take over, helping Shen Yu lie down on the couch. She gently removed his shoes and socks, then turned to quietly instruct a young maid to brew some sobering soup.
Shen Yu was too drunk to bathe. Knowing his love for cleanliness, Ruixue removed his clothes, brought water to wipe his body, and after cleaning him up, the sobering soup was ready. She helped Shen Yu drink it, then struggled to help him to bed.
Shen Yu opened his eyes groggily, seeming to smell Ji Cheng’s fragrance, a faint peach scent. Since that encounter in the garden of the South Prince’s mansion, that scent had lingered in his nostrils.
To be honest, although Ji Cheng was a rare beauty, her beauty was of only one kind. In this world, some beauties might not have Ji Cheng’s exquisite features but possess their unique charm – graceful, alluring, innocent, or gorgeous. Why was it that her scent, experienced only once, had wrapped itself around his heart? Shen Yu himself didn’t know. But in his midnight dreams, when occasional fanciful thoughts arose, he couldn’t help but think of her.
Perhaps this is the nature of a born enchantress. You can’t see the word “enchantress” written on her, but just one glance and you’re already captivated.
Shen Yu’s sorrows could be drowned in wine, and what remained could be comforted by the fragrant Ruixue. But some people’s worries weren’t so easily dispelled.
For instance, when Ji Cheng woke up from her drunken sleep, the sword of Damocles still hung over her head, its cold light gleaming. Shen Che was nowhere to be seen, but her freedom was still restricted.
Nangui followed Ji Cheng closely, having already laid out the harsh reality: “The Young Master said no one would mistreat Liuye’er and Yuqian’er, but they can’t return to serve you for now. As for Orchid Lane, if you don’t make any unusual moves, the Young Master won’t touch them for now.”
Ji Cheng’s last glimmer of hope was extinguished. Her secret network in Northern Hu must have been completely uprooted. Now the Ji family’s fate hung by a thread, entirely in Shen Che’s hands.
“Did your Young Master say when he would see me?” Ji Cheng asked.
Nangui shook her head.
At this point, Ji Cheng did not need to consider her so-called self-esteem. “Then can you help me pass a message to your Young Master? Tell him I want to… ” Ji Cheng paused, reconsidering her words, “Tell him I beg for an audience.”
Nangui replied, “Even I can’t see the Young Master now. I’ve only been instructed to take good care of you, Miss.”
Ji Cheng’s heart burned with anxiety, but she had to maintain a smile when facing the Old Madam. Now, the only chance to preserve a trace of the Ji family’s bloodline probably lay in a shred of sympathy from the Old Madam.
“Oh? Where are those two little maids of yours?” The Old Madam might be old, but her mind was still sharp. It didn’t make sense for Ji Cheng to leave behind the two maids she brought from Jin and instead use the maids given by the Shen family.
Ji Cheng smiled and said, “Yuqian’er fell ill. I was afraid she might spread her sickness to others in the courtyard, so I sent her back to Orchid Lane with Liuye’er to look after her.”
The Old Madam nodded, not asking further. Ji Cheng accompanied her for breakfast, and in the afternoon, when female guests came to play cards with the Old Madam, Ji Cheng helped by watching her cards. Ji Cheng was skilled at calculations and rarely lost when playing cards at home. Occasionally offering advice to the Old Madam, her suggestions were always crucial. By the end of the afternoon, the Old Madam had a great run of luck. Winning money was a small matter; the main thing was finding enjoyment.
In the evening, when Shen Che came to pay his respects to the Old Madam, Ji Cheng, for the first time, didn’t actively avoid him. The Old Madam pretended not to notice Ji Cheng’s unusual behavior and smiled as Shen Che entered.
Shen Che sat down beside the Old Madam, naturally glancing at his cousin Ji Cheng, a faint smile on his lips, seemingly no different from usual.
Ji Cheng, on the other hand, kept stealing glances at Shen Che, trying to find a clue in his expression. But if Shen Che didn’t want you to guess his thoughts, there was no way to discern his emotions.
For people, sometimes death isn’t the hardest part; it’s the time spent waiting for death that’s most difficult.
After just a few words, the Old Madam’s questions turned to the topic of marriage. “Time flies so fast. It’s already June, half the year is gone. By next year, you’ll be twenty-four. How will others view it if your marriage is delayed further? Even your elder brother feels the house is too quiet, yet you don’t seem worried at all. I won’t let you slip away this time. If your marriage isn’t settled by September before I host the Chrysanthemum Appreciation Banquet for you, I’ll pick a pockmarked face for you myself.”
Shen Che laughed, “So Old Ancestor is craving sesame cakes, even thinking of a pockmarked face for your grandson’s wife.”
The Old Madam playfully hit Shen Che, always acting like a young girl around this grandson. This was the nature of having children in old age.
While Shen Che was joking, the Old Madam kept glancing at Ji Cheng from the corner of her eye. Seeing no shy reaction on Ji Cheng’s face when Shen Che’s marriage was mentioned, she thought she might have guessed wrong. Could there be nothing between these two?
The worst thing for a family is when two brothers fall for the same girl. If she’s married into the family, it might cause discord between brothers. But if not, both would be disappointed, which wouldn’t be ideal either.
Then Shen Che spoke, “I’ve said before, I’ll listen to Old Ancestor about marriage. If I’m not mistaken, you probably already have someone in mind. Don’t set traps for me, Old Ancestor. If you like a girl from some family, just go ahead and propose directly.”
These words dispelled even the Old Madam’s suspicions, making her laugh, “You talk sweetly, but if I bring someone for you to marry, can you guarantee you’ll treat her well? Marriage should bring happiness, not misery.”
“I promise to treat her well, at least no worse than how I treat Aruo. Is that good enough?” Shen Che said.
Ji Cheng lowered her eyes silently as she listened to the conversation between grandmother and grandson, a bitter feeling welling up inside her. The difference in family background truly had an enormous impact on one’s fate.
Back when Su Yun had feelings for Shen Che, he could have easily taken advantage of her. But precisely because Su Yun’s family background was respectable and not to be trifled with, Shen Che always maintained a distant attitude, which inadvertently caused Ji Cheng to be resented by Su Yun.
And how did Shen Che treat her? Ji Cheng didn’t even want to remember. It was nothing more than toying with her, and one could even add the word “wantonly” to describe it.
Now, Shen Che’s attitude towards marriage made Ji Cheng feel particularly humiliated. Amidst the humiliation, a sense of resentment towards the world’s unfairness arose. That unseen girl, just because her family background caught his eye, could easily make Shen Che promise to treat her as well as he treated Aruo.
In an instant, Ji Cheng felt a chill in her heart. Originally, her heart was full of fear, but now it felt like cold ashes, without even the strength for a dying ember to struggle.
Her ears buzzed, and Ji Cheng could barely hear what Shen Che and the others continued to say. It wasn’t until she heard her name from Shen Che’s lips that Ji Cheng came back to her senses, blankly meeting Shen Che’s gaze.
Shen Che’s gaze skimmed over Ji Cheng’s face like a dragonfly touching water. “Old Ancestor, why do you always focus on me? What’s wrong with a man marrying a bit later? You should be more concerned about Cousin Cheng’s affairs. If I remember correctly, Cousin Cheng should be sixteen now, right?”
This question seemed directed at both the Old Madam and Ji Cheng.
It was indeed rare for a sixteen-year-old girl to not be engaged yet.
Because the two previous marriage proposals the Old Madam had in mind for Ji Cheng didn’t work out, the old lady was somewhat displeased. Although it wasn’t Ji Cheng’s fault, thinking about it still made her uncomfortable and gave her an ominous feeling, as if Ji Cheng’s marriage was destined to be ill-fated.
“Stop changing the subject and using your Cousin Cheng as a shield. I’m talking about your affairs,” the Old Madam said.
Shen Che replied, “If you don’t have anyone in mind, I think there are two families quite suitable for Cousin Cheng. If Cousin Cheng doesn’t mind, I could lend a small hand.”
This statement not only startled the Old Madam, but even Ji Cheng herself couldn’t help but look up at Shen Che in surprise.
Ji Cheng had been waiting for Shen Che to make his move. She had considered the best and worst scenarios in her mind, but “matchmaking” was not one of them.
It was completely unexpected.
But words coming from Shen Che’s mouth could never be good, and Ji Cheng wouldn’t doubt the malice behind them. She could only reply, “How could I trouble Cousin with such matters? I was thinking of telling Old Ancestor that I’ve been away from home for over a year now, and my mother has been worried. This time, when my father came to the capital, he planned to take me home.”