Chapter 145: Wait for My Return

Shen Nanyuan’s gaze was solemn. "Mother, if Big Brother hadn't gone this time, he would have gone eventually. He is skilled in martial arts and has been trained by Father since he was a child, so he will surely return safely. You need not worry."

Madam Shen sighed. "I know."

She paused before continuing, "Now that both your father and your brother are away from the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion, there must be many people watching us. You are the eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhen and a County Princess specially conferred by the Emperor, so you must be cautious in your words and actions, and ensure you give no one any leverage."

This, she realized, was what her mother had truly wanted to say.

Shen Nanyuan nodded firmly. "I understand, Mother."

Later that evening, after dinner, Wu Miaofu returned to her quarters. Madam Shen remarked, "Miaofu is a gentle soul who dislikes expressing her troubles, preferring to bury them deep inside. Your uncle had hoped I would help her find a good husband, but even after bringing her to various social gatherings, she has never mentioned any young master to me."

This had become a weight on her heart. Since the girl was her niece, she did not want to settle for just anyone, and the matter had been causing her great distress.

After a moment of silence, Shen Nanyuan said, "Although I haven't been involved in this, I can tell that Cousin has very high standards."

"Although Yunzhou is a small place, your cousin was considered a talented woman there, and she had many admirers."

Madam Shen sighed. "Well, there is no use rushing it."

A month later, a family letter from Shen Sinian finally arrived in the capital. Unlike the letters from Shen Yi, this one was filled to the brim. The first three pages were packed with news of his safety, anecdotes about the interesting things they encountered while heading south, and descriptions of the food they had eaten. His tone was somewhat carefree, which seemed to soothe the anxiety in the hearts of both Shen Nanyuan and Madam Shen.

However, the final page contained only a few scrawled lines.

"Do not worry about me. Your brother is eating and sleeping well, and I will be back in a few days. When I return, I will tell you all about the interesting things here. The scenery is beautiful and magnificent; I wish you could see it too. When there is a chance, I will definitely bring you here."

These few sentences occupied only a third of the page, leaving a large expanse of empty space below. There appeared to be nothing unusual, yet his signature was placed at an odd distance from the text—neither at the bottom nor in the middle—looking slightly out of place.

Madam Shen smiled. "Seeing him like this, I feel at ease."

Shen Nanyuan’s eyes flickered as she looked at the blank space on the paper. "Indeed."

Could there be hidden writing below? He must have known this letter would be inspected at the palace first; was there something else he wanted to tell her?

Shen Nanyuan paused and smiled. "Mother, may I take this letter back to Shaohua Courtyard? I will return it to you later."

Madam Shen nodded.

Shen Nanyuan turned and walked away with hurried steps. Upon reaching Shaohua Courtyard, she turned to Qingrui and said, "Light the candle."

Qingrui was puzzled but complied, placing the lit candle before Shen Nanyuan.

Shen Nanyuan held the letter, positioning the blank space over the flickering flame. She had only intended to test a hunch, but to her surprise, characters began to appear. The handwriting was completely different from what was written above.

Her heart skipped a beat.

"Wait for my return."

—

"My sister is clever. She will definitely notice the odd placement of my signature and realize there is writing below," Shen Sinian said, leaning toward Xiao Yan. He asked with curiosity, "What did you write? I didn't see it before your handwriting dried. From the marks left behind, it seems to be only a few words."

Xiao Yan’s gaze was indifferent. "Nothing of importance."

"Fair enough, but I have another concern," said Shen Sinian. "This letter has to go through the palace first. Won't they discover it?"

"They won't," Xiao Yan replied. "His Majesty will not examine it closely. Besides, you all know these letters are sent to the palace first, so you would certainly not write anything incriminating. Given that, His Majesty only gives them a cursory glance."

Shen Sinian felt slightly relieved. He paused, looked around to ensure no one else was nearby, and whispered, "Although I support you, everything depends on my sister's wishes. If she does not wish to enter the palace or does not fancy you, you must not force her as the Second Prince is doing now."

Xiao Yan’s brow furrowed slightly, and after a moment, he gave a soft nod.

The sun had already set behind the hills, and the sky was growing dim. The two stood upon the city walls, looking down at a battlefield strewn with corpses and blood. Standing in the twilight shadows, they seemed like beasts lurking in the dark, radiating a dangerous aura.

—

"Big Sister! Big Brother’s report of victory has reached the capital!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Nanyuan set aside her carving tools, her face beaming with joy. "Really? That is wonderful!"

Shen Jinyu ran up to her, grinning. "He has recaptured several cities and forced the Sangluo army into a continuous retreat! His Majesty is delighted. I heard he is going to bestow many rewards upon the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion!"

Imperial rewards had become a routine occurrence with every report of victory. Only, in the past, it was because of Shen Yi, and now, it was because of Shen Sinian. It seemed the prestige of the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion in the imperial court would only grow further.

A faint smile touched Shen Nanyuan’s lips as she stood up and wiped her hands with a handkerchief. "Come, let us go see Mother."

Madam Shen was undoubtedly overjoyed upon hearing the news. The Emperor had indeed bestowed many rare treasures, and after the palace eunuchs offered their congratulations and departed, Madam Shen wore a smile she could not hide. To see her son achieve such feats was a source of immense pride and happiness.

Shen Nanyuan had previously kept the last page of Shen Sinian’s letter, lying that she had accidentally lost it. Fortunately, Madam Shen had not pressed the matter, and now, seeing her son’s successive victories, the incident was completely forgotten.

Only Concubine Meng wore a forced smile.

Later that evening, while walking back with Shen Jinyu after dinner at the Old Madam’s, she could not help but frown. "Look at your brother, and then look at you! I don't ask that you go to the battlefield and fight like him, but at least achieve something! In the capital, everyone praises your brother, but when they speak of you, it is only with the word 'profligate.' Can't you do something to make your mother proud?"

"..." Shen Jinyu muttered, "There's nothing I can do about what they say."