Chapter 21: Hidden Affections (3)
Thus, Ji Cheng's longevity bracelets gained charming additions like miniature rice dumplings, bats, and lizards. Though not the most exquisite among the girls' creations, their vibrant color schemes made them passably presentable.
This was only because someone performed worse—Lu Yuan.
Born in the borderlands despite her noble parentage, Lu Yuan's education suffered from the scarcity of proper tutors. Her skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and embroidery remained mediocre at best, though she outpaced most girls in horsemanship and archery.
For this Dragon Boat Festival, Lu Yuan crafted cloth versions of the five poisonous creatures: snakes, scorpions, and lizards. Ji Cheng couldn't in good conscience call them skillful, but their lifelike quality had already reduced several eight-year-old girls to tears.
By the fourth day of the festival, Ji Cheng joined the others in making zongzi under Cook Liu's guidance to distribute among family elders and siblings. At dusk, her arms aching from the day's labor, she sorted the longevity bracelets into boxes. She instructed Yu Qian'er and Liu Ye'er to deliver them to her male cousins while personally presenting those for elders during morning greetings.
Yet Liu Ye'er refused the task. "Miss, Lady Yun and Lady Yuan delivered theirs personally. Shouldn't we show equal sincerity?"
Ji Cheng understood the unspoken motives behind Su Yun and Lu Yuan's actions perfectly. When Shen Quan had earlier suggested group deliveries, the two girls' silence and Shen Yan's subtle tug at Shen Quan's sleeve had dissolved the plan.
Such festival gift-giving opportunities naturally attracted certain ambitions. Ji Cheng, however, avoided them scrupulously, fearing any misstep might provoke unfavorable comments from the Shen elders during future marriage discussions.
Rubbing her sore arms, Ji Cheng said, "My arms still ache from wrapping zongzi all afternoon. Check whether Third Sister and Fifth Sister have delivered their gifts yet—and how they did it. If they're going, I'll join them."
Liu Ye'er returned shortly. "Third Miss already delivered hers. Fifth Miss was about to leave and agreed to wait for you."
After changing clothes, Ji Cheng met Shen Cui. They first visited Shen Yu's courtyard, where they found only Hong Ge'er. The boy scampered toward Ji Cheng on short legs before halting a foot away, hands clasped behind his back in mock solemnity. "Why are you here?"
Ji Cheng bent to pinch his round cheeks. "To bring you longevity bracelets."
Hong Ge'er thrust out his wrists. "I already have some."
Undeterred, Ji Cheng opened her lacquered box. "Others gave theirs, but this is my gift. You may choose first."
The boy sifted through the bracelets, finally selecting one woven with a tiny gecko. "This one."
As Ji Cheng knelt to fasten it, Shen Cui and maid Lan Xiang stared in astonishment.
Who was Hong Ge'er? The Shen family's first legitimate grandson, cherished like a precious pearl by the matriarch. His every need received priority, and though young, he already commanded the unyielding demeanor of his father Shen Yu's miniature replica.
The boy habitually treated others with cool detachment, only permitting cautious attendance from his servants. That he allowed Ji Cheng to pinch his cheeks—and without protest—left even his long-suffering maid Lan Xiang speechless.
Shen Cui, though rarely interacting with her nephew, knew his aversion to physical contact. "Since when did Cousin Cheng grow so close to Hong Ge'er?" she blurted, unable to mask her acidity.
Ji Cheng hadn't anticipated such pettiness. New to the household, she remained unaware of the boy's notorious temperament and thus failed to grasp the cause of Shen Cui's envy.
Shen Cui's suspicions spiraled. Past suitors for Shen Yu's hand had tried courting his son, hoping to win the father through the child—all thwarted by Hong Ge'er's fiercer temper. Witnessing Ji Cheng's success where others failed stirred begrudging admiration beneath her jealousy.
Admiration notwithstanding, Shen Cui deemed Ji Cheng's efforts futile. With a derisive smirk, she muttered, "Wasted labor."
Their conversation halted as Shen Yu entered. "Eldest Brother!" Shen Cui greeted, her earlier boldness toward Ji Cheng evaporating.
Ji Cheng lowered her eyes. "Cousin Yu." However shameless it seemed to claim kinship with the Shen heir, she calculated the value of fostering connections.
Hong Ge'er shifted behind Ji Cheng, evading his father's gaze.
Shen Yu's throat tightened at the unexpected encounter. Since witnessing Ji Cheng's river rescue, two nights of improper dreams had left him self-reproachful. Now avoiding her eyes, he asked gruffly, "What brings you here?"
"Sending Dragon Boat Festival gifts," Shen Cui answered.
"Come inside."
As they followed, Hong Ge'er clung to Ji Cheng's sleeve. She glanced down, realizing Shen Yu's strict parenting explained the boy's wariness—yet she marveled at how this proud child had taken to her after mere two meetings.
Inside the brighter hall, Shen Yu noted his son's proximity to Ji Cheng with raised brows. Hong Ge'er retreated half a step, but his father withheld reprimand before guests.
Under Shen Cui's nudging, Ji Cheng produced her gift—a random bracelet from the box handed to maid Rui Xue, while Shen Cui presented an exquisite five-colored satin gourd strand.
Departing Shen Yu's Changheng Courtyard, Shen Cui exhaled dramatically. "Finally breathing freely!"
Ji Cheng chuckled. "Is Eldest Young Master truly so fearsome?"
Before Shen Cui, she avoided the familial "Cousin Yu" address. This cousin claimed ownership over anything remotely connected to herself.
"Exactly! Glowering like Judge Bao yet mute as stone. What do his admirers even see?" Shen Cui side-eyed Ji Cheng.
The latter merely smiled, acknowledging but not engaging with the barb.
Shen Cui couldn't read anything from Ji Cheng's expression and continued, "We came here ourselves just to show our sincerity. I thought we wouldn't run into Eldest Brother, but who knew he'd return at this very moment. By the way, why is Hong'er so close to you?"
Ji Cheng fabricated an excuse: "I've always had a natural affinity with children." This wasn't entirely false - when she'd been a tomboy, she'd commanded even more loyalty than her second brother, practically able to rally followers with a single call.
Shen Cui naturally didn't believe her but knew further probing would be futile. "Let's go," she huffed. "Time to visit Second Brother."
Now it was Ji Cheng's turn to hope Second Young Master Shen wouldn't be present. Ever since their rooftop encounter at De Yue Pavilion, thoughts of Shen Che left her unsettled. All her usual pretenses crumbled uselessly before him.
The Shen cousins were rarely seen around the estate. Catching sight of Shen Yu today had been extraordinary luck, though even he had only returned to change clothes before departing for social engagements. The chance of encountering the notoriously elusive Second Young Master would be even slimmer.
Ji Cheng followed Shen Cui to Nine Li Courtyard in Qing Garden. As an unmarried man, Shen Che had chosen this separate residence rather than occupying the main estate's outer quarters.
Nine Li Courtyard formed a self-contained paradise within Qing Garden. Beyond its vase-shaped gate lay a serpentine path with nine turns and eighteen bends, accompanied by a babbling stream that wound through bamboo groves, across wooden bridges, and around rose trellises. Each step revealed new vistas of tranquil beauty, the air perfumed with magnolia blossoms - truly a fairyland on earth.
As the path widened, bamboo houses clinging to the hillside came into view, flanked by endless emerald bamboo stalks whose rustling created rhythmic whispers.
Lanterns now glowed through the bamboo latticework, their orange light rippling through the jade forest like an ascending dragon. The adjacent stream shimmered like drifting silver ribbon. "How beautiful," Ji Cheng breathed involuntarily.
Even Shen Cui momentarily lost her composure, overcome by mingled awe and resentment toward the main household's refined opulence.
As they prepared to advance, a young page approached. "Fifth Miss..." He faltered upon seeing Ji Cheng, uncertain how to address the unfamiliar face.
"My cousin Ji Cheng," Shen Cui supplied. "Is Second Brother present?"
"Second Young Master is indeed here," answered Qi Shu. "Have you come to deliver longevity threads, Fifth Miss? Miss Lu is already inside." As he spoke, Su Yun emerged from a side path with her maid, completing their trio.
Before they could enter the hillside bamboo house, Lu Yuan's saccharine voice floated out: "Che cousin, will you watch tomorrow's dragon boat races? Afterward there's polo too! The capital's so lively for Dragon Boat Festival - I'm thrilled I arrived in time!"
Ji Cheng and Shen Cui exchanged shuddering glances. This cooing tone bore no resemblance to Lu Yuan's usual hearty voice, raising gooseblesh on their arms.
Su Yun muffled a laugh behind her sleeve.
Blushing fiercely, Lu Yuan retreated from view as they entered. "What a coincidence! Have you also come to deliver festival charms to Che cousin?"
Only Shen Cui responded. Ji Cheng kept her head lowered, discomfited as if caught mid-misdeed, while Su Yun's flushed cheeks betrayed her stolen glances toward Shen Che.
Ji Cheng mused silently: Which cousin would the Second Young Master favor - the radiant beauty or the vivacious charmer?
Even she, newly arrived, knew of Shen Che's reputation as a romantic. That Su Yun and Lu Yuan still harbored hopes despite this spoke volumes. Yet who could blame them? His striking features blended aristocratic coldness with understated charm - moonlit winter sky and lone mountain pine combined. Ji Cheng herself struggled to maintain composure under that gaze.
Such beauty could season rice bowls daily without uttering a word.
A living feast for the eyes.
Pity Lu Yuan's flirtations found blind eyes. Her inquiries only met with: "I have prior engagements."
Su Yun pressed: "They say His Majesty will attend Golden Rainbow Pond's races this year! Surely you'll go?"
"His Majesty attends every year," Shen Cui interjected. "Second Brother must be bored of it by now."
Shen Che's lips curved faintly. Noticing his subtle glance toward an attendant, the page announced: "Young Master, it's nearly Xu hour. Don't you have an appointment with Master Ma?"
Shen Che rose with an apology, departing to change. The girls hastily placed their trinkets on the table, unspoken words lodged in throats.
Returning, Ji Cheng relaxed upon recalling Shen Che's reserved manner. His notorious reputation had made her fear worse behavior within family walls.
At the path fork, Lu Yuan declared: "My feet ache from walking. Fifth Sister, please deliver this to Jing cousin for me." Her single-mindedness invited silent ridicule.
The steadier Su Yun continued with them to Shen Jing's courtyard.
Here the atmosphere differed. Shen Jing had canceled engagements specifically to receive his cousins, hoping for glimpse of Ji Cheng.
"Cheng妹妹, have you fully recovered?" he asked urgently when she entered.
"Completely," Ji Cheng answered with open smile, preferring frankness over demure pretense.
Shen Jing forced himself to engage Su Yun: "I heard you enjoy literary sketches? I'll find some worthy volumes."
After their departure, he anxiously watched Ji Cheng's retreating figure. Would she misunderstand his attention to Su Yun as protective deflection from his mother's scrutiny?
Ji Cheng gave the matter no thought whatsoever.
(End of Chapter)
