Chapter 135: Still Quite Happy

A few days after returning from the royal hunt, Shen Yi led his troops out on an expedition.

Amidst the cheers of the common people, she stood on the city walls, watching his silhouette recede until it finally vanished from sight. A profound sense of desolation washed over her.

Shen Sinian, noticing her reluctant gaze, reached out and gently ruffled her hair. He, too, would be leaving the capital before long. He swallowed the words that had reached his lips and whispered instead, "Would you like some candied fruit? Shall I buy you some?"

Shen Nanyuan shook her head. "No, let's head back to the manor."

"Very well."

It occurred to her that since the royal hunt, Wu Miaofu had rarely come to see her. This was a welcome change, however, as it gave her a little time to herself.

Inside the manor, everything was quiet. Wu Miaofu gazed into a bronze mirror, a satisfied smile touching her eyes. Since arriving here, Madame Shen had provided her with several new sets of clothing and had sent over many pieces of jewelry for her to choose from. Although she knew these were items Shen Nanyuan had already passed over, she could not help but feel delighted at the sight of her own reflection.

Dressed in fine silks and satins, adorned with exquisite jewelry in her hair, she looked delicate and vibrant. Gone was the rustic, petty air she had brought with her. It seemed that living in the Duke of Zhen's manor and being in the company of Madame Shen and Shen Nanyuan had imbued her with a sense of elegance. Having followed Madame Shen on a few occasions and witnessing the servants bowing to her, she had begun to develop an inexplicable sense of superiority.

Yet, this feeling would vanish the moment she laid eyes on Shen Nanyuan. In her presence, Wu Miaofu felt as though she could never hold her head high, plagued by an underlying sense of inferiority. But that was of no consequence; she believed it would fade with time.

She stood up in her pale pink gown and allowed Liu'er to drape a cloak over her shoulders. "Let's go," she said, her eyes downcast, projecting a pitiful and delicate appearance.

Shen Jinyu was busy with his handiwork in Qingfeng Pavilion. He had few hobbies, but crafting was one of them, and he was exceptionally skilled at it. The kite he had previously given to Shen Nanyuan had been made by his own hands from start to finish. Whenever he had free time, he enjoyed carving in his pavilion.

He had spent the morning seeing his father off to the expedition and, finding himself idle in the afternoon, had set to work. Just as he was deep in his task, a servant spoke up: "Young Master, the cousin has arrived."

Shen Jinyu looked up to see Wu Miaofu walking toward him, her expression serene and soft, a faint smile playing on her lips. Why was she here? They were hardly close.

He curled his lip, set down his tools, and stood up. "Cousin."

"I heard you mention before that you liked the food from the Mingyue Restaurant," Wu Miaofu said. "I happened to be passing by today, so I brought some for you."

She shifted slightly, and Liu'er stepped forward, placing a food box gently onto the stone table.

Shen Jinyu’s gaze locked onto it. He opened the box to find several of his favorite dishes inside. His eyes brightened. He hadn't felt hungry before, but at the sight of his favorite food, he suddenly felt quite empty.

"Then, thank you, Cousin." He offered a small smile, though he did not look at her, and immediately picked up his chopsticks to eat.

Wu Miaofu sat in the chair next to him. Noticing the half-finished carving on the table, she picked it up to examine it, her face full of surprise. "Did you make this?"

Shen Jinyu glanced at it out of the corner of his eye, too preoccupied to answer, but he replied, "Mhm. Just a hobby."

"Is this a bird?" Wu Miaofu studied the unfinished piece. Even without the final details, the sharp beak and round eyes were clearly visible, looking remarkably lifelike and spirited.

"Yes, it's a bird."

"It's carved beautifully," Wu Miaofu said, her voice soft and delicate, sounding quite different from her usual timid demeanor. "I never imagined you were so skilled, Cousin. It’s the finest carving I’ve ever seen." She added cautiously, "I really love this. When you finish it, would you be willing to give it to me?"

Wu Miaofu looked at him with her dark, wide eyes. Shen Jinyu’s hand paused. Being praised in such a way left him feeling somewhat awkward, but he nodded. "Very well. I will have someone deliver it to your courtyard once it is finished." It was a fair exchange for the food from the Mingyue Restaurant.

Deep down, however, Shen Jinyu felt a flicker of joy. His mother had once scolded him, telling him his carvings were useless and that he only knew how to play at trivial things. The first person in the entire manor to praise his craftsmanship had been his eldest sister; Wu Miaofu was the second.

Although he still didn't particularly care for her, he felt quite pleased today. He looked up to find her still admiring the piece, seemingly genuinely fond of it, which gave him a great sense of accomplishment.

Knowing that their relationship was still distant and that overstaying her welcome would only annoy him, Wu Miaofu gently set the semi-finished piece down. Watching him continue to eat, she said softly, "Then, please enjoy your meal. I shall take my leave."

"Safe travels, Cousin," Shen Jinyu replied.

Once she was a good distance away, the smile on Wu Miaofu’s face faded. She asked with satisfaction, "When we go to see the Aunt later, are the osmanthus cakes she likes prepared?"

"They are ready, Miss," Liu'er replied. "And the boatman for tomorrow's excursion has also been arranged."

Wu Miaofu nodded. Still, the one she found most difficult to approach was Shen Sinian. Though he always appeared easygoing and would occasionally crack a joke, his high rank and his closeness to Shen Nanyuan made her uneasy.

She sighed softly, "Never mind. Let's focus on the task at hand."

***

Shen Nanyuan received the finished little figurine from Shen Jinyu. It was so adorable that she couldn't help but laugh. "This is carved so beautifully."

"Do you like it, Sister?" Shen Jinyu’s eyes shone.

Shen Nanyuan nodded. "I love it."

"Cousin saw the bird I was carving and asked for it, so I promised it to her," Shen Jinyu said with a grin. "But I wanted to give you one, too. This little figurine is something I just learned how to carve recently, and you are the first to receive a finished piece."