Chapter Fourteen: My Brother Knows What He’s Doing

Jun Ci’s eyes darkened as he strode to stand before Shen Nanyuan, towering over her as he questioned coldly, “What did you mean by what you just said?”

Shen Nanyuan sat down and poured herself a cup of tea. Wisps of steam curled into the air. She took a delicate sip, then slowly raised her gaze to meet Jun Ci’s eyes, a light smile playing on her lips. “It means nothing,” she replied.

But then she turned the question back on him, “Young Master Jun, why do you ask?”

Jun Ci fixed his gaze upon her, a trace of wariness flickering in his cold eyes. “I don’t have time for riddles. What is it you’ve found out?”

“What I know is of no consequence,” Shen Nanyuan set her teacup down with a soft clink. “What matters is that if our engagement is dissolved, I can pretend I know nothing.”

She lazily tapped the table with her forefinger, her eyes clear yet edged with deeper meaning. “Young Master Jun, no matter how this turns out, the one who stands to gain from ending the engagement is you. You know what to tell Uncle Jun.”

Jun Ci’s breath caught in his throat.

His eyes remained locked on Shen Nanyuan, an unfamiliarity settling over him that made him frown. He had never seen her so sharp before; it was as if he no longer recognized her.

Was this her true nature all along?

He opened his mouth, uncertain. “You…”

“Me?” Shen Nanyuan lowered her eyes to glance at herself. “What about me?”

Jun Ci’s hand, hidden behind his back, clenched tighter. Shadows flickered in his dark gaze before he looked away and shook his head. “Nothing.”

His voice was flat. “I’ll speak to my father. The engagement will be annulled soon.”

Shen Nanyuan nodded, perfectly satisfied. “Very well.”

“In that case, we’ll have nothing further to do with each other. I wish you all the best, Young Master Jun.” She rose lightly to her feet, her eyes and brows radiant with humor. “I’ll take my leave—do as you please.”

Jun Ci was silent.

He watched her retreating figure, his expression unreadable.

This was a side of her he had never seen before. Even though she had followed him since childhood, never once had she burned so brightly. She had always looked at him with cautious eyes, trailing in his footsteps, impossible to shake off no matter how he tried. Others would tease that he always had a little shadow at his side, which irritated him to no end.

Now, that little shadow had finally gone.

The thing he had hoped for all these years had finally come to pass; from now on, there would be no more ties between them.

Jun Ci pressed his lips together, an inexplicable heaviness lingering in his heart.

—

Just as Jun Ci had said, the following day, their engagement was officially dissolved by imperial decree.

Not only Shen Yi, but even Shen Sinian’s face was alight with joy, clear evidence of how deep his usual prejudice against Jun Ci ran.

They had lunch at the old matriarch’s quarters. Shen Nanyuan had paid her respects here several times before, and since the old lady doted on her, Shen Nanyuan was perfectly at ease. After the formalities, she walked to her grandmother’s side, greeting her with a bright, “Grandmother.”

The old lady had long prepared all Shen Nanyuan’s favorite pastries, her face brimming with affection as she insisted the girl sit by her and eat. Shen Sinian, watching from the side, could not help but feel envious and huffed, “Grandmother spoils you most. These pastries are always saved for you, in case we finish them off first.”

Shen Nanyuan glanced at him, then picked up a piece and offered it. “Here, brother, have one.”

The meaning was clear: eat up and kindly hush.

Shen Sinian could only fall silent.

The old lady’s eyes were full of laughter as she patted Shen Nanyuan’s hand. “As long as you come visit me often, I’ll always save some for you.”

Shen Sinian swallowed his bite. “And me, Grandmother?”

Shen Nanyuan feigned arrogance, raising her chin. “You can eat what’s left after me.”

The old lady chuckled, her gaze full of fondness as she looked at her grandchildren.

It wouldn’t be long now before the trip to Puyue Temple.

After lunch, the old matriarch went to rest. Shen Nanyuan propped her chin in her hand, sitting idly in the pavilion, her eyes drifting to Shen Sinian.

“Brother, don’t forget you promised to teach that servant in my courtyard some martial arts in a few days.”

“I won’t forget,” Shen Sinian waved his hand. “Don’t worry. Since he’s to protect you, I’ll teach him well.”

Shen Nanyuan hesitated for a moment. “But he’s still injured, not fully recovered. Don’t be too harsh at first—he doesn’t have any foundation in martial arts, and I’m afraid he’ll not withstand much. It took ages of bedrest for him to regain some color.”

“And also—”

She was about to continue when she noticed Shen Sinian’s exasperated expression and frowned. “What is it?”

“When did you become so fussy?”

Shen Sinian patted his chest. “Just trust your brother, will you? I know what I’m doing.”

Shen Nanyuan fell silent.

She honestly did have her doubts. She’d heard well enough about Captain Shen’s strict ways—many under his command would take the long way around rather than cross his path.

But since he’d promised, she could say no more. Smiling, she pushed the pastries toward him. “I trust you, brother!”

In any case, once they went to Puyue Temple and let the hero and heroine meet, there would still be some days before Xiao Yan returned to the palace. In the meantime, he would have good food, good drink, Shen Sinian teaching him martial arts—surely Xiao Yan’s heart would soften, even if just a little.

Especially now that the true culprit, Shen Jinyu, had been punished and was still under house arrest. It might not make Xiao Yan forget, but perhaps he would show mercy to the Shen family. Even being demoted would be better than the fate in the original story, where hundreds of lives were implicated.

Shen Nanyuan returned to Shaohua Courtyard, exhausted and ready for a rest.

The courtyard was as tranquil as ever. Qingrui followed at her side, speaking in a soft voice, “Ever since your engagement with Young Master Jun was dissolved, the capital has been in an uproar about it.”

It was all thanks to Qingrui, always inquiring among the servants, that Shen Nanyuan—despite her quiet life in Shaohua Courtyard—knew so much of the outside world.

She answered lazily, “I expected as much.”

Even if she heard that Jun Ci was soon to be married, it would hardly surprise her.

“I also heard,” Qingrui said, her tone turning slightly proud, “that many young gentlemen have taken a fancy to you…”

Shen Nanyuan frowned at once. “What? They’ve all seen me?”

“No need to have seen you,” Qingrui replied, unable to hide the pride in her voice. “You’re renowned as a beauty of the capital. That alone is enough to inspire admiration and curiosity.”

Shen Nanyuan was speechless.

Seriously?

From the side house, Xiao Yan emerged, catching Qingrui’s words from afar. In his line of sight, Shen Nanyuan looked both exasperated and amused, her eyes bright, the corners of her lips lifted in a gentle, captivating smile.