Chapter 23: Sibling Discord (Part 2)
“Oh no, no, no,” Shen Quan stammered, hopping in frustration and gasping for breath. She shot a pleading look at Ji Cheng.
After weighing her options, Ji Cheng spoke up, “Cousin Che, this is all my fault. I was curious about the capital’s street food, and Sister Quan couldn’t refuse my begging. She only brought me here to explore.”
Shen Quan gestured at Ji Cheng as if declaring, “You’re my savior—the Bodhisattva of Compassion herself!”
Shen Che knew his sister’s temperament well. Without an enabler, Shen Quan would never have come here alone.
“This area is unsavory. You girls shouldn’t wander unsupervised,” Shen Che said, turning slightly toward Ji Cheng. “The capital lacks Jin Province’s simplicity. As the elder by a year, Miss Ji, you’d do well not to indulge her recklessness. Should harm befall her, no amount of regret would undo it.”
Ji Cheng flushed beneath her veil. This cousin was alarmingly perceptive—his layered remarks had thoroughly exposed her calculations.
They were practically strangers. She’d assumed a distant relative like herself would escape Shen Che’s notice, yet he’d not only identified her origins but discerned her role in today’s mischief. His warning was clear: any misfortune befalling Shen Quan would bring dire consequences.
As Ji Cheng floundered for words, Shen Quan interjected, “Second Brother, don’t blame Sister Cheng! I wanted to come too.” She tugged his sleeve petulantly. “This is your fault! You’d rather entertain strangers than watch the dragon boats with me!” Her glare shifted to the silent woman beside Shen Che.
The woman wore a married woman’s chignon adorned with a white temple flower—marking her as a widow in mourning. Her cherry-blossom pink jacket and aubergine pleated skirt, secured by jade waist ornaments, suggested her three-year mourning period had ended.
Commoners observed mourning customs less rigidly than officials. While the gentry feared censure damaging their careers, peasants prioritized survival over rituals—few could afford prolonged seclusion or meatless diets, even for deceased spouses.
Though the widow’s fine clothes hinted at comfortable means, her unchaperoned Dragon Boat Festival outing with Shen Che revealed lax family discipline. Ji Cheng guessed her background resembled her own merchant-class roots, albeit less affluent.
Noticing their attention, the widow curtsied gracefully. Her poise carried a practiced allure, marking her as one versed in romantic games.
Ji Cheng withheld judgment—widowhood was hardship enough. But Shen Quan sniffed disdainfully, yanking Shen Che’s sleeve. “Second Brother! Since I’ve caught you, you must accompany me now. Or I’ll tell Mother!”
Shen Che extracted his sleeve. “Return immediately, or forfeit all festival outings this year—Mid-Autumn, Double Ninth, and Lantern Festival included.”
Shen Quan gaped. When her brother made no move to dismiss his companion, she jabbed a finger at the widow. “Don’t gloat! Last month’s woman wasn’t you either!”
Ji Cheng nearly facepalmed. Undermining one’s own brother? But meddling in sibling quarrels risked resentment.
“A-Quan.” Shen Che’s frown shifted toward Ji Cheng.
Though reluctant to interfere, Ji Cheng found herself grasping Shen Quan’s sleeve under that piercing gaze. “Let’s return, Sister Quan. The polo match is starting—Sister Yuan must be searching for us.”
Shen Quan shook her off angrily, redirecting her humiliation onto Ji Cheng. Snatching her skirts, she fled through the crowd, tears streaming.
Ji Cheng stamped her foot. Cursed be that intimidating wastrel! Shen Che’s mere look had shattered her carefully laid plans to curry favor.
As she gave chase, the breeze lifted her veil’s gauze, granting an unobstructed view of Shen Che’s impassive face. How heartless—watching his sister’s distress without compunction!
The widow started when Ji Cheng’s beauty flashed into view. Though the glimpse lasted mere seconds, Wang Li-Niang felt utterly outshone—a common cabbage beside this peony. She stole a glance at Shen Che. If his cousin rivaled immortal loveliness, why choose someone like her?
“Young Master,” she simpered, “shouldn’t you ensure Miss Quan’s safety? I’ll be fine alone.”
Shen Che’s sidelong glance stole Li-Niang’s breath. Such devastating beauty in a man was calamitous. His charm transcended mere looks—an intoxicating blend of frost and danger that made poison seem sweet.
“Li-Niang,” he murmured, lips quirking, “I preferred you as you were when we first met.”
What did she look like when they first met? Wang Li Niang was lost in thought. Back then, she had been a young widow enduring harsh treatment from her mother-in-law, living in a cramped upstairs room above her late husband's family wine shop.
That day when Shen Che passed by with his entourage, Wang Li Niang was struck by his otherworldly beauty. Summoning unexpected courage, she tied her handkerchief to a fan tassel and threw it at him. To her surprise, the perceptive young master reciprocated her boldness, and thus began their relationship. His lavish generosity even softened her mother-in-law's attitude toward her. But what had she truly been like back then? Shameless? Wang Li Niang asked herself with growing unease.
Just as Wang Li Niang felt her heart plunging into icy water, Shen Che spoke: "You dared throw your handkerchief at me in public back then. Now you claim to miss me, yet you play coy and push me away?"
Wang Li Niang met his gaze. Though his eyes held amusement, their depths remained cold. She forced a strained smile, understanding his unspoken message. Petty feminine games meant nothing to him. She'd been foolish to entertain inappropriate hopes—how could someone of her status ever deserve him? Better to enjoy temporary pleasures than pretend to virtue.
Her heart ached with bitterness, yet she clung desperately to his fleeting tenderness.
Meanwhile, had Ji Cheng truly wished to catch Shen Qian, it would have taken mere moments. A sheltered young lady like Shen Qian couldn't match her stamina. But approaching now would only draw fire—Shen Qian had just lost face before Shen Che and would resent being seen in such disgrace.
Moreover, Shen Qian often boasted of her second brother's devotion, making this humiliation harder to bear.
After allowing Shen Qian time to catch her breath, Ji Cheng finally rushed forward, calling anxiously: "Qianmei!"
Shen Qian turned away, too exhausted to run further yet unwilling to face her. Ji Cheng silently reached for her hand. When Shen Qian shook her off once, twice, Ji Cheng persisted until the younger girl stopped resisting, though she remained silent.
Only when they neared the Shen family tents did Shen Qian speak: "Cheng Jiejie, you must tell no one about today."
Ji Cheng removed her veil and nodded solemnly. "I won't breathe a word."
Shen Qian stomped her foot, lips pursed. "My brother abandoned me for some shameless harlot! I hate him!"
Though Ji Cheng longed to echo the sentiment, she knew better. Once the siblings reconciled, she'd be left holding the blame. "Shen Che would never abandon you," she soothed. "Perhaps his business with that woman isn't what you think."
"What business could he possibly have?" Shen Qian snapped. "He spends all his time carousing with floozies!" She immediately flushed, backtracking: "Not that he's truly like that, but... but..." Her voice trailed off helplessly.
"I know, I know," Ji Cheng interjected quickly. "He shows remarkable judgment in important matters. Why, he doesn't even keep maids in his chambers." The words tasted bitter—she despised her own hypocrisy.
Shen Qian leaned closer conspiratorially. "That's only because Mother forbade it! First she worried servants would corrupt him, then said noble families prefer brides without competition in the household."
To such esteemed clans, family conduct outweighed any noble title. Not even a princess' son could compensate for poor upbringing. Ji Cheng nodded, newly appreciating the importance of domestic reputation.
"Still, Shen Che's obedience shows filial piety and discernment." Filial piety through mere compliance? What low standards. Though Ji Cheng's words subtly mocked Shen Che, the guileless Shen Qian brightened. Her earlier outburst stemmed partly from fearing Ji Cheng might later criticize her brother.
Even furious with Shen Che, Shen Qian wouldn't tolerate others disparaging him.
"True, he's always respected Mother," Shen Qian conceded. "But he's never shown this sister the same consideration."
(End of Chapter)
