Chapter 31: The Jiang Family

If Pei Ji could stand out in this spring hunt, the Emperor would surely be greatly pleased, and the rewards would be bountiful.

"Now, Wanning, look at the noble ladies on the field; is there any other who behaves as lackadaisically as you? Sit down quickly and let us wait for good news together."

Although Madame Chen feigned a reprimand, her face was filled with doting affection. In her heart, whatever Shen Wanning did was always the best, the most wonderful, and the most impressive.

Shen Yuan did not want to watch their display of mother-daughter affection and turned her head away, pretending not to hear.

"If only Brother Lu could participate, how wonderful that would be. I remember when I first met Brother Lu, he was such a high-spirited youth. It is a pity that now..." Shen Wanning lowered her eyes, revealing a deep sense of regret.

To Madame Chen, she appeared to have the compassionate heart of a Bodhisattva, pitying others so deeply. Shen Yuan, however, turned a deaf ear to this, appearing completely indifferent.

Madame Chen sighed and took her hand, stroking it gently as she asked, "That day when Lady Wang invited you to tour the lake, how did things go with Chengyuan? Did you make any progress?"

Shen Yuan pulled her hand away without a trace and replied indifferently, "Has Mother forgotten? It was I who pushed Lady Zhang into the lake, causing Wanning to be pricked by a fish bone and nearly suffer a brutal beating from Father."

Madame Chen froze, suddenly realizing. Ah, yes. It had been such a scene at the manor that day; how could she have forgotten? Or perhaps, had she truly never kept Shen Yuan's affairs in her heart? Conversely, she could recite exactly what Wanning had eaten for every meal yesterday, what hair ornaments she wore, and what gown she had on!

Sensing these biases, Madame Chen’s expression grew awkward. She explained softly, "Forgive my poor memory. So, regarding you and Chengyuan... did you leave any bad impression?"

"Mother is so concerned about my affairs with Lu Chengyuan. Could it be that you have already prepared my dowry, waiting for the new son-in-law to come and collect me?" Shen Yuan’s tone was cold, and her calm, water-like gaze fell upon Madame Chen, making her feel flustered. "You girl, what nonsense are you spouting? You have only just returned to my side; I cherish you too much to want you to marry off so soon!"

Her panic stemmed from the word "dowry." Shen Yuan knew very well that Madame Chen already regarded her as an outsider and certainly would not prepare a dowry for her; furthermore, she was coveting the private assets left behind by their grandmother.

"Yes, Sister, it doesn't matter if you don't marry. Father and Mother are both willing to take care of you for the rest of your life!" Shen Wanning turned to Madame Chen with a smile, "Isn't that right, Mother?"

Madame Chen’s expression turned unpleasant. She did not answer directly and excused herself, claiming to feel unwell. As she left, she muttered to herself, "What daughter doesn't marry..."

Shen Yuan smiled faintly and said nothing. At that moment, a rose-red smoke rose slowly into the sky over a certain part of Yinxiu Mountain, visible to the entire enclosure.

"Someone has caught prey first!"

Someone shouted loudly, and the atmosphere on the field suddenly turned boisterous. Shen Wanning clapped and cheered, "It must be the Governor who has such capability!"

Zhang Yanran, in the neighboring seat, couldn't help but interject, "It’s 'your Governor' this and 'your Governor' that; are you so afraid others don't know he is your fiancé?"

Shen Wanning blushed immediately and explained, "Sister Zhang, I was just momentarily excited..."

"Enough, enough! I was only making a comment, don't take it to heart. Don't go crying again; if the Governor blames me later, I won't be able to bear the responsibility!" Zhang Yanran was well-acquainted with her habits, and her tone was filled with unconcealed disdain.

The surrounding tables heard this and covered their mouths to stifle laughter. Shen Wanning dared not say another word, and tears fell uncontrollably.

Shen Yuan glanced at her "wronged" expression and reached out to place a pastry on her plate. "If you used the tactics you use against me on them, no one would be your match."

A single tear rolled onto the edge of the table. Shen Wanning’s eyes trembled as she lowered them, her guilty conscience flashing by, and she whispered, "What is Sister saying? I don't understand."

"The Jiang family." Shen Yuan’s lips moved slightly.

Those two short words were enough to make Shen Wanning break into a cold sweat. She was unsure of exactly what Shen Yuan knew.

"I have never heard of the Jiang family, nor do I know them. Has Sister misunderstood something?" Shen Wanning tried her best to restrain her panic, but when faced with Shen Yuan’s faintly scrutinizing gaze, she bit her lip uncomfortably. She had already lost this round.

Shen Yuan simply stared at her quietly without speaking. The more she did so, the more nervous Shen Wanning became. The spring hunt had only just begun, and there was still a long time before it concluded.

The Empress Dowager, seeing that the guests were inevitably bored sitting in the hall, had Mother Zhao dismiss the noble ladies to stroll along the flower paths of Yinxiu Mountain. The path wound around the mountain, offering glimpses of figures chasing prey in the woods.

Shen Yuan followed behind the crowd, quietly admiring the exquisite beauty of the royal gardens.

"Miss, look! That is the Second Young Master! He seems to have caught some prey!" Following the direction of Liu Yan’s finger, Shen Yuan spotted traces of Shen Lang.

Within the crisscrossing mountain forests, figures appeared and vanished in an instant.

"The Second Young Master may be a bit hot-tempered, but when it comes to riding and archery, he is considered one of the best in the capital." Even Liu Yan, who usually had reservations about Shen Lang, couldn't help but praise him.

"That is the only skill he has." A grown man with no career prospects, lacking in talent, spending his days hovering around Shen Wanning or indulging in pleasure with disreputable friends. How could Shen Yong, who cared so much about the family's reputation, not discipline his second son properly?

Liu Yan wiped her sweat, "Miss, let’s keep our complaints private. Be careful of being overheard." Fortunately, the two of them were walking very slowly, and with no one following closely behind, there was no need to worry.

"I know." Fortunately, Shen Yuan took it to heart.

"Wanning, why are you not walking with your sister?" The voice of Gu Furong came from not far away. She had been attending to the Empress Dowager and only now noticed the despondent Shen Wanning, calling her over.

Shen Wanning pursed her lips, looking unhappy, "I suppose Sister still resents me for taking her place, so she doesn't want to be with me."

Gu Furong narrowed her eyes, as if she had not imagined Shen Yuan to be such a person. She gently advised, "Perhaps there is a misunderstanding between you sisters; just clear it up. You are all one family; why cause such disharmony?" Gu Furong was born into a prestigious family and understood that "if one prospers, all prosper; if one suffers, all suffer." Thus, she was secretly reminding Shen Wanning.

Shen Wanning hesitated and nodded, her expression blank for a moment, "Sister Gu is right." She secretly observed Shen Yuan, recalling the earlier conversation, and the thoughts in her heart became even more restless.

The flower path was filled with fragrance. When Shen Yuan approached, she saw Shen Wanning waiting for her at the end of the path. By now, the crowd of flower-gazers had left them far behind.

She stammered, "Sister, there is something I want to tell you."

"What do you want to say?" Shen Yuan asked.

Shen Wanning glanced at Liu Yan, seemingly unwilling to let others know, "It concerns the Jiang family. Please, Sister, step aside so we may speak."