Chapter Two: He Is Merely a Servant

The servants watching coldly from both sides seemed utterly unprepared for Shen Nanyuan’s sudden appearance, scrambling to bow in haste. “Eldest Miss.”

The sound made Shen Jinyu, who was holding a whip with fury etched across his face, turn abruptly. His expression froze, the savagery vanishing in an instant. Panic-stricken, he threw the whip to the ground and hurried to her side, putting on a sycophantic smile. “Big Sister, what brings you here today?”

Shen Jinyu was the son of Shen Yi and his concubine Lady Meng, only fourteen this year. Spoiled since childhood, he feared no one—not even their eldest brother, Shen Sinian—except for Shen Nanyuan.

Shen Nanyuan ignored him, striding quickly to the person kneeling on the ground. When she saw the boy slowly raise his numb face, her heart skipped a beat.

At this moment, the male lead was still a frail, underfed youth, thin as a reed. Yet, despite his weakness, the outline of his features was already clear—handsome and chiseled, as if sculpted from stone. Even in his wretched state, there was an innate coldness about him, his eyes dark and brooding, his jawline sharply defined.

But his lips were smeared with blood, and his exposed arms were covered in bruises. The whip marks across his back were especially horrifying, his face so pale he looked as though he might collapse at any moment.

He was kneeling, battered and feeble, yet Shen Nanyuan couldn’t help but feel a vague sense of fear. Meeting his gloomy, black eyes, she involuntarily took a step back, her heart pounding in her chest. That look alone made her arm tingle with numbness.

Shen Jinyu, feeling guilty, hurried to stand between her and the boy, full of obsequiousness. “Sister, shall we go inside for some tea? It’s filthy here—I’ll have the servants clean up at once.”

Steadying herself, Shen Nanyuan brushed aside his outstretched hand, her face frosty as she pointed to the kneeling youth. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I… I…” Shen Jinyu’s face flushed red. There was no chance to lie in this situation. He stammered, unable to get the words out. “Sister, he’s just a servant…”

“A servant is still a person.”

Furious at his attitude, Shen Nanyuan’s voice rang out cold and sharp. “If Father learns of your viciousness, he’ll have you thrown out of the Duke’s manor!”

Shen Yi’s attention was always on the court and the battlefield; as long as things were kept from him, he rarely knew what went on in the inner residence. Lady Meng had only this one son and poured all her efforts into him; she had no control over affairs outside the manor, but she made sure nothing inside ever reached Shen Yi’s ears.

This had only emboldened Shen Jinyu’s arrogance.

At the mention of Shen Yi, Shen Jinyu paled further.

He pleaded in a low voice, “Sister, please, don’t tell Father. This is the last time, I swear it won’t happen again.”

Pitifully, he went on, “Forgive me, just this once.”

Shen Nanyuan paid him no heed. Her gaze passed over Shen Jinyu and landed on the boy, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. After a moment’s hesitation, her tone softened as she walked to him and knelt down, speaking gently. “Are you alright?”

Xiao Yan was already having trouble seeing clearly. Days of hunger and today’s beating had left him utterly spent. Summoning his last ounce of strength, his cold, deep eyes watched her warily before he lowered his head, answering in a hoarse, formal tone. “I am fine. Thank you for your concern, Eldest Miss.”

Shen Jinyu crouched as well, trying to mollify her. “Big Sister, see? He says he’s fine… I didn’t hit him hard…”

Shen Nanyuan’s brows knitted. “Be quiet! Say another word and I’ll tell Father all about your foolishness.”

Shen Jinyu snapped his mouth shut, not daring another sound.

The boy was desperately weak.

Shen Nanyuan knew this was her opportunity to make a good impression in front of the male lead. After a brief pause, she extended a hand as white as jade, her voice softening, gentle yet firm. “From now on, you’ll serve by my side.”

Hearing this, Xiao Yan raised his gaze and, for the first time, clearly saw the face before him.

She seemed about fifteen or sixteen, her skin fairer than snow, long black hair cascading down her back, eyes dark and limpid as a clear spring. Clad in a pale pink lotus-leaf gown, her beauty was peerless—so striking that once seen, it could never be forgotten.

She and he were worlds apart.

He knew of her—had glimpsed her from afar a few times, often heard people speak of her. She was the beloved legitimate daughter of the house, cherished beyond measure. This time she had intervened, probably out of boredom or curiosity.

No one in the Duke’s manor was a good person.

Seeing his silence, Shen Nanyuan reached out again with her hand. “No one will dare bully you if you stay with me. From now on, I’ll protect you.”

Qing Ruo, Shen Jinyu, and the surrounding servants were all stunned. Qing Ruo hurried to Shen Nanyuan’s side, her voice low and incredulous. “Miss?”

But before she could finish, the kneeling boy’s body gave out, and he collapsed heavily to the ground.

As Xiao Yan’s consciousness faded, he felt someone grasp his hand—soft and delicate, as though boneless. Then a frantic, urgent voice rang by his ear: “Quickly, fetch the physician!”

It sounded a lot like the voice of that exalted young lady, adored by all.

But why…?

——

Shen Nanyuan was somewhat preoccupied.

She had matters to attend to in the main hall and could only instruct Shen Jinyu to take the young man back to her Shaohua Courtyard, warning him repeatedly to fetch a physician, or she would not be at ease.

The boy’s wary demeanor made it clear—he already loathed the Duke’s household, and was certainly capable of destroying the Shen family in the future.

He was not far from being found and restored to power.

Ten years of hatred could not be so easily resolved.

Moreover, the male lead was an exceedingly cautious person. In the original story, even the heroine had spent a long time at his side before earning his trust.

Speaking of the heroine…

Shen Nanyuan frowned slightly and suddenly turned to Qing Ruo. “Next month, Grandmother is going to Puyue Temple to offer incense and prayers, isn’t she?”

Qing Ruo nodded. “Yes, she’ll be back in three days.”

“I’ll go too,” said Shen Nanyuan.

Qing Ruo hesitated, then reminded her, “But Young Master Jun’s birthday is during those days… You said you wanted to give him the sachet you embroidered yourself.”

Shen Nanyuan waved a hand dismissively. “Did he give me anything on my birthday? No? Then why should I give him anything?”

Right now, the male lead was far more important.