Chapter Ninety-Nine: I Will Surely Return

Shen Nanyuan finished her entire bowl of noodles, not leaving a single strand behind. She stood up, as if suddenly recalling something, and turned to say, “By the way, I’ll make you a few new sets of clothes in a few days. Autumn is nearly here.” According to the original story, he was supposed to return to the palace after autumn began. She wasn’t sure if this plotline would change, but dressing him well would at least show the Prime Minister that the Duke’s household had not neglected him.

Xiao Yan’s expression faltered ever so slightly. After a moment, he nodded. “Alright. I’ll do as you say, miss.”

But he feared there would be no such opportunity.

The next time they met, he would no longer be the guard of this Shaohua Courtyard.

Though Shen Nanyuan sensed something odd in his demeanor today, she didn’t press him. The recent events had been overwhelming enough for her as it was, and she barely had time to worry about anyone else.

She nodded gently. “I’ll go inside to rest for a while. Later, I’ll need to visit Grandmother.”

Xiao Yan bowed his head slightly and bent at the waist. As he rose, he gazed at her receding figure, his dark, lustrous eyes growing deeper and more shadowed.

He hesitated, then suddenly spoke. “Miss.”

Shen Nanyuan turned at the sound, a little puzzled.

“Please wait for me,” Xiao Yan’s eyes were like black tides, threatening to swallow her whole. “I will come back.”

She was briefly taken aback, then smiled softly. “Of course, I’ll wait for you. We’ll eat together when you return.”

As her figure disappeared from view, Xiao Yan withdrew his gaze.

Jinzhu was heading to the kitchen to find out what tasty dishes Old Li would be preparing tonight. She asked in passing, “When are you leaving the estate?”

“I’m leaving now.”

She nodded at his reply. “Then come back early tonight.”

Jinzhu continued, “Today is Miss’s birthday, you know. Last year, because of the young lord... Miss couldn’t even enjoy her meal. So much has happened this year. We must keep her company for this dinner. Perhaps next year...”

Perhaps next year, Miss would have to celebrate her birthday in the palace.

She couldn’t help but feel a little wistful and shook her head with a sigh. “I’ll go to the kitchen now.”

Xiao Yan felt a tightness in his chest, the darkness in his eyes heavy, like a shroud of storm clouds. For a moment, he lowered his gaze, emotions churning inside him, leaving him unsettled.

This meal—he would not be able to accompany her after all.

He was leaving.

Shen Nanyuan slept until dusk, only waking when Qingrui called her. The sky outside was already dim. She tidied herself up quickly and hurried toward the old madam’s courtyard.

Passing by the side rooms, she noticed the interior was pitch dark. She assumed Xiao Yan had gone to the kitchen to help Old Li and didn’t ask about him. When she arrived at the old madam’s place, Shen Yi was nowhere to be seen.

Shen Jinyu came forward, glancing at her face with concern, then said cautiously, “Sister, today is your birthday. I have nothing of value to give you, so I made a paper kite myself. I’ll have someone send it to your courtyard later. I hope you’ll like it.”

“Of course I will.” Shen Nanyuan smiled gently and patted his head. “It’s the thought that counts. I’m very happy and I love it.”

Since the betrothal was decreed, Shen Jinyu had been worried about her. He’d wanted to visit her at Shaohua Courtyard, but thought she’d probably prefer solitude for now and refrained. He’d started working on the kite long ago; autumn was nearly here, the season for kites. He wondered if this would be the last year she could fly a kite outside the palace.

Shen Jinyu blinked, a trace of melancholy clouding his eyes.

“If only you could stay here at the Duke’s estate forever, sister.”

He’d misunderstood her in the past, having been influenced by his mother’s words. Yet, over the past year, he’d come to appreciate having an elder sister and, from initial apprehension, had grown increasingly fond of her.

Who could have predicted that with a single imperial decree, she would soon be married off?

Once she entered the palace, it would be rare to see her again.

Shen Nanyuan smiled quietly. “I’d like to stay here, too.”

But even without the betrothal to the Second Prince, she’d planned to leave the capital once Xiao Yan returned to the palace. She’d been on the verge of freedom, only for this marriage to block her path and take away her chance.

After speaking, she went to sit beside the old madam, affectionately taking her arm and acting spoiled.

“Grandmother, today is my birthday.”

She blinked, and the old madam, who’d been somewhat sad, couldn’t help but smile dotingly. “I prepared your birthday gift long ago.”

Shen Sinian chimed in, “Of course, did you need to hint? Grandmother dotes on you so much—when has she ever forgotten your birthday gift?”

She laughed quietly at that. “Where’s Father? Why isn’t he here?”

By rights, Shen Yi should have arrived by now.

At the mention, Shen Sinian’s smile faded a little. “He’s at the palace.”

His brows knitted together as he recalled the eunuch’s urgent summons that afternoon. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something important was happening.

Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been such haste.

Hearing those words, Shen Nanyuan’s heart sank as well.

Last time had been much the same: her father went to the palace and didn’t return for a long while, and then she found herself saddled with a marriage contract.

Would something happen again this time?

She pinched the bridge of her nose, troubled.

It seemed this birthday would be another difficult one.

With Shen Yi’s delayed return, the old madam, just as she had before, insisted they begin eating without him. The mood was tense; Shen Nanyuan ate the dishes Lady Shen placed before her, but her thoughts were scattered.

Shen Yi had been back for two days and hadn’t once had a proper meal with the family. Now he’d been summoned to the palace—something significant must be happening.

Even Shen Jinyu, who was usually enthusiastic about food, looked worried.

Only Lady Meng’s attitude toward her was markedly warm, even presenting her with a birthday gift. Anyone unaware might have thought Lady Meng was especially fond of her.

But Shen Nanyuan knew well what lay behind this sudden attentiveness.

It was merely because the emperor had decreed her engagement to the Second Prince, and he was, relatively speaking, the most likely to ascend the throne. This was nothing more than an attempt to curry favor.

A birthday banquet ought to be a happy occasion, yet tonight, everyone seemed preoccupied. The old madam and Lady Shen kept stealing pained glances in her direction, which only made Shen Nanyuan feel even worse.

Even Shen Sinian, usually so talkative, was uncharacteristically quiet tonight.

She felt out of sorts.

All she could do now was hope that something would happen to break off this engagement.

Dinner ended, yet Shen Yi still hadn’t returned. Night had fallen, the darkness pierced only by the faint glow of red lanterns on either side. Lady Shen, frowning, tried to comfort her.