Chapter 44

Shen Si Nian quietly gazed at the young woman’s face. This face had gradually matured without him witnessing it, becoming increasingly captivating, no longer the Zhao Zhao that belonged solely to him in childhood.

“Why didn’t you tell me when you returned today?” he said softly.

Shen Yao Xing found it somewhat difficult to understand, did this person come over in the middle of the night just to say this?

“I went to check on Mother’s condition today, and I forgot in my haste.” Shen Yao Xing spoke the truth. After returning from the guest hall, she had been thinking about the poisoning matter. Seeing it was dark, she thought of going over to greet him tomorrow, not knowing he would come over himself.

The night wind was a bit chilly, and the man was dressed thinly. Shen Yao Xing frowned: “Big Brother, if you have any business, come over tomorrow. Don’t catch a cold in this chilly wind.”

In this world, men’s constitutions were naturally weak, the type to fall ill at the slightest breeze.

Shen Si Nian seemed not to hear, his hand touching his arm, his voice still very soft: “Big Brother still has something to say to you.” He raised his eyes to look at her steadily, his tone exceptionally stubborn: “Now.”

Sometimes Shen Yao Xing really had no way to deal with her big brother. If it were any other man, she could just slam the door and ignore them. But this person was her big brother, they had grown up together. Even if sometimes his words and actions were not reasonable, she couldn’t do anything to him, she could only go along with it.

A cool breeze blew by, and the man’s body trembled as if unable to withstand it.

Shen Yao Xing finally couldn’t bear it anymore and invited him into the bedroom.

Taking an outer garment and draping it over him, Shen Yao Xing sat down opposite the man and asked, “Big Brother, what exactly is it that you’re looking for me so late for?”

Shen Si Nian clutched the young woman’s clothes on his body tightly, waves of warmth flooding his heart. He raised his eyes to gaze at the person on the other side of the candlelight, with an indescribable passion, his voice clear and moist: “Do you know about the marriage Mother has arranged for me?”

Shen Yao Xing, who was feeling drowsy as her mind relaxed, was awakened by his words, not hiding her surprise at all: “Marriage? When did this happen?”

She really knew nothing about this matter.

The man’s gaze was resentful: “It was arranged by Mother when you left last time.”

Shen Yao Xing bit her upper lip awkwardly, stammering: “You could have written me a letter…” She stopped mid-sentence, realizing her foolishness. He didn’t even know where she was, how could he write a letter!

Shen Yao Xing scratched her neck, beginning to change the subject: “Which family did Mother arrange the marriage with?”

Shen Si Nian observed the young woman’s face, not missing the slightest change in expression. But the result was bound to disappoint him. On that delicate face, apart from a fleeting embarrassment, the rest was just curiosity.

The hand clutching the outer garment became increasingly tense. Shen Si Nian lowered his eyes, unable to hide his disappointment, his voice becoming fainter, “It’s the World Marquis’s family.”

The World Marquis’s family?

Shen Yao Xing’s heart skipped a beat, suddenly having a bad premonition. Her hands unconsciously clutched the edge of the tea table as she nervously asked, “Which daughter?”

“The eldest legitimate daughter.”

As soon as the man finished speaking, Shen Yao Xing slapped her forehead with a loud ‘pa’, then slowly slid down her face, the force so great that her face turned red.

The young woman’s hand was on her face, her expression distorted.

She absolutely would not agree to this marriage!

Someone like Chu Yi, with lovers everywhere, could be a friend, but as a partner, wouldn’t that be harming others and oneself! It’s one thing for her to harm others, but she absolutely cannot let her harm her own big brother!

Thinking of this, Shen Yao Xing quickly leaned over the table, looking at him seriously and said, “You must not agree to this marriage!”

Shen Si Nian’s gaze was faint, he looked at her steadily for a long while, his voice slightly hoarse,

“Zhao Zhao knows, this matter is not for Big Brother to decide.”

……

The next day, before the sun had even risen, Shen Yao Xing got up early, just to be able to visit Mother Shen earlier, and incidentally to mooch a breakfast there.

Mother Shen, who was just about to have breakfast, was slightly surprised to see the person who came: “Why are you up so early today?”

Usually, at home, this child wouldn’t get up until the sun was overhead, but today, it’s as if the sun had risen from the west. Not only was she up, but she had also come to pay her respects.

Shen Yao Xing yawned, pressing down the tuft of hair sticking up on her forehead, and greeted them without much energy: “Morning……”

Yu Die, sitting to the left of Mother Shen in a purple robe, smiled brightly: “Zhao Zhao is filial, knowing that wife-master you are ill, she’s rushing to see you.” As he spoke, he raised his hand to beckon to the young woman: “Zhao Zhao, come, sit here.”

Sitting to the right of Mother Shen, Song shi frowned slightly, glancing with disgust at the man full of charm, coldly snorting in his heart, acting so flirtatious with everyone, truly a shameless creature.

Shen Yao Xing slowly sat down, picking up the bowl and chopsticks brought by Butler Luo, her gaze sweeping around everyone, her hand reaching for her pocket, where the antidote powder given by Doctor Yi yesterday was. When soaked in water, it could test whether the food was poisoned.

After witnessing the young woman’s series of small actions, putting each dish and even rice into a bowl of water, Mother Shen frowned: “What are you doing?”

Shen Yao Xing’s action of stirring with chopsticks paused, she secretly turned her body slightly, muttering: “Don’t mind me……”

Mother Shen’s face turned stern as she reprimanded: “No misbehaving at the dining table, have you forgotten what I taught you?”

Shen Yao Xing ignored her, her gaze focused on the clear water mixed with food, apart from oil spots floating on the water surface, there was nothing else.

Her arm was nudged, Shen Yao Xing turned her head to see the man in purple robes giving her a meaningful look. Her gaze drifted to his side, Mother Shen’s face was now like the eve of a storm, extremely dark.

Seeing this, Shen Yao Xing immediately sat up straight, asking Butler Luo to help her change to a new set of bowls and chopsticks, placatingly picking up food and putting it in the stern-faced person’s bowl: “Mother, please eat more.”

Mother Shen’s face eased slightly, glancing at the young woman, she used her chopsticks to put the food into her mouth.

The atmosphere during breakfast was quite peaceful. After the leftovers were cleared away, Shen Yao Xing eagerly opened her mouth: “Mother, do you feel better today?”

“Mm.” Mother Shen took a sip of hot tea, nodding faintly.

That indifferent manner made Shen Yao Xing unable to gauge her current mood. The twists and turns she had thought about until midnight yesterday couldn’t be spoken out at once. After frowning and struggling for a long while, she finally couldn’t help but say: “Mother, how could you arrange such a marriage for Big Brother? Everyone in the capital knows how flirtatious Chu Yi is, wouldn’t Big Brother suffer if he marries her!”

Mother Shen seemed to have guessed the young woman’s intention early on, and said unhurriedly: “It’s perfectly normal for women to enjoy seeking pleasure, the key lies in her status and position.” At this point, Mother Shen paused, looking at her and continuing: “Moreover, you have some friendship with Miss Chu, surely you don’t fear she would harm Nian’er?”

She’s precisely afraid of that!

Shen Yao Xing was so anxious she almost wanted to pound the ground. Left with no choice, she could only keep talking about Chu Yi’s shortcomings, almost to the point of making things up, but Mother Shen remained unmoved, not paying any attention to her words.

Instead, Song shi on the side couldn’t stop talking, criticizing: “How can you be so inconsiderate, child? The An Marquis has power and influence, it’s Nian’er’s good fortune to be able to marry into their family. You should be happy for him, how can you be here speaking ill of people?”

After a round of criticism, Shen Yao Xing was stunned.

Uncle, he’s your own son! How can you harm your son like this?

She had thought Song shi would at least stand on her side a bit, but now it seems she’s fighting a lone battle.

“How can Brother Song speak of Zhao Zhao like this? She’s still young, it’s just that she cares for her big brother, naturally she doesn’t have as many thoughts as you.” Yu Die’s delicate voice naturally carried a hint of coquettishness.

These words protected the young woman while also stepping on Song shi, implying that he was greedy for vanity, not even as good as Nian’er’s sister who had no blood relation.

Song shi was so angry he gritted his teeth, but for a moment couldn’t find words to retort.

Shen Yao Xing had no mood to watch them fight for favor. Seeing that she couldn’t persuade Mother Shen, she could only change direction and go find the other protagonist of this marriage.

When she learned that Chu Yi was not in the mansion, Shen Yao Xing instinctively guessed where she might have gone. Sure enough, when she rushed to that famous pleasure house in the capital, that person was disheveled, embracing others left and right.

The strong scent of powder almost made Shen Yao Xing unable to open her eyes. She coldened her face and drove away the extra people in the room, walking straight over and knocking on the table in front of the woman with the hilt of her knife.

Chu Yi had drunk a lot, her face flushed. She squinted at the young woman for a while before seeming to recognize her, immediately beaming with joy, her words carrying the smell of alcohol: “Little Star is back! Quick, quick, join me for a drink.”

Shen Yao Xing impatiently shook off her hand and went straight to the point: “Listen, go back quickly and tell your mother you don’t agree to the marriage, tell her not to set her sights on my big brother.”

“Marriage? Your big brother?” Chu Yi frowned, pretending to think deeply, then looked up seriously and said: “No.”

Looking at the drunk woman, Shen Yao Xing gritted her teeth: “Why?”

Chu Yi held her wine cup, sighing languidly: “It’s said that marriage is decided by parents’ orders and matchmakers’ words. Moreover…” She suddenly stood up and walked to the young woman’s side, placing her hands on the young woman’s shoulders, saying softly: “Moreover, I’m quite satisfied with this marriage, after all, this way we two can become even closer relatives.”

The ambiguous voice circled in Shen Yao Xing’s ear, that hand still restlessly trying to touch her body. Shen Yao Xing couldn’t hold back anymore and pressed the person down on the ground, giving her a good beating.

Wails and pleas for mercy continuously came from the flower room, the degree of misery was such that those who heard it all took two steps back and then walked around.

After this incident, Shen Yao Xing was even more determined not to let Shen Si Nian marry into that family. Chu Yi had already lost her moral compass, and after marriage, she might dare to perform spring palace diagrams with others in front of her husband.

Left with no choice, Shen Yao Xing went to pester Mother Shen again, pestering until her mouth was dry and her tongue was parched before Mother Shen finally relented.

“I can agree to your request.”

Shen Yao Xing, thinking she had worn down an iron pillar into a needle, brightened up, but before she could speak, Mother Shen continued.

“But you must also agree to one thing for me.”

“Please say it!”

Mother Shen took a sip of tea, raised her eyes to look at her innocent-faced daughter, and slowly said: “Agree to the marriage with Young Master Yin, and obediently stay in the capital to get married.”

These words were like a bolt from the blue. Shen Yao Xing’s smile froze on her face. If Mother Shen hadn’t brought it up, she had almost forgotten about this matter.

After a moment of silence, Shen Yao Xing still tried to struggle: “There’s no possibility between me and that person, besides, that Young Master Yin hasn’t agreed to the marriage either……”

Before the young woman could finish speaking, Mother Shen interrupted her: “Oh right, this morning a letter came from Young Master Yin’s side, saying that his mother has agreed to the proposal. Once an auspicious date is chosen, the wedding can proceed.”

“……”

“I’m not forcing you, it’s your own choice.”

Shen Yao Xing felt a lump in her throat, staring at the teacup in front of her, falling into silence.

Mother Shen didn’t push too hard. She stood up with her hands behind her back, walked to the young woman’s side, and reached out to pat her head, sighing: “Zhao Zhao, there’s nothing in this world that can be perfect. Your mother has already taken a step back for you, you should think carefully.”

In her ears was the sound of Mother Shen’s departing footsteps. Shen Yao Xing slumped in the armchair, her mind as messy as if it had been smeared with excrement.