Translator – Xiao He Lian
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Chapter 134 Extra 7
Shen Shu eventually still met with Liu Che.
Liu Che wore a moon-white long robe. His entire demeanor was clear and gentle. When speaking with Shen Shu, he was both focused and slightly nervous, every word cautious and respectful.
The woods of the Shen residence rustled in the autumn breeze. Yellow leaves fell sparsely, green shadows interlaced, reflecting Shen Shu’s graceful yet resistant smile.
When Liu Che read the meaning in that smile, he didn’t show any change of expression. He only said with a gentle smile, “I hope you live as you wish from now on.”
Shen Shu sincerely replied, “Thank you.”
This brief meeting was quickly reported to Shen Wenqi.
As for why Shen Wenqi had chosen Liu Che, there were three reasons.
First, Liu Che was under his tutelage. Shen Wenqi knew his temperament and background thoroughly — who his ancestors were for three generations. Liu Che was meticulous and decisive in handling affairs, and possessed a sense of righteousness. To Shen Wenqi, the only thing he lacked was a prestigious family name; in all other ways, he was second to none.
Second, though the Jin Dynasty valued filial piety, Shen Wenqi couldn’t forget how much grievance Shen Shu had suffered in the Li family. Sparks between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, even if men turned a blind eye, they were never truly unaware. Liu Che had lost his mother young and only had a father and a younger brother at home — to Shen Wenqi, this was a plus.
Third, the Liu family had a rule: no concubines unless childless at forty.
If even such a man wasn’t someone Shen Shu wanted to marry, then she must truly not wish to marry at all.
He was willing to raise his daughter for a lifetime.
Not marrying — might even be better.
After all this, Shen Wenqi finally gave up his hopes.
Early autumn in Chang’an brought occasional thin mists. After the sun rose, the fog dispersed, revealing a crisp and clear sky.
Shen Shu woke early and massaged her neck. Qingli helped her wash up, hesitant to speak, stealing glances at her lady now and then.
Shen Shu smiled, “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Qingli said, “There’s something I don’t know if I should say.”
“Just say it,” Shen Shu replied.
Qingli asked, “Miss praised Lord Liu so highly yesterday — why did you refuse him?”
Shen Shu smiled, “He may be good, but that doesn’t mean marrying him would be good. Qingli, usually in the beginning, everything always seems good.”
Qingli fell silent for a moment and asked sadly, “Do you still miss… Li Di?”
“The past is just the past,” Shen Shu said quietly. “But if I must explain, yes, it is related to him — but not because I still long for him.”
She looked at Qingli. “Others may not understand, but you, of all people, should know what the past five years have been like for me.”
Shen Shu and Li Di had been together for over five years.
The real hurt hadn’t come from the year and more after they fell out — but from the four affectionate years before that.
She had never known a man more gentle and considerate than Li Di.
For over a thousand days and nights, he had given her what seemed like the sweetest candy in the world every day.
So now, no matter what sweet words or vows she heard, they all tasted bland.
Her heart was like a calm lake. Even if a boulder had once been thrown in, stirring up waves, it eventually returned to stillness.
Qingli was at a loss and quickly bowed. “I’ve overstepped.”
“There’s no need for such words between us,” Shen Shu said, taking a deep breath. “Qingli, I’m not someone who forgets the pain once the wound has healed.”
Qingli replied, “I won’t mention it again.”
Shen Shu nodded. “It’s autumn now. That pastry shop on East Street — Pang’s — should be selling flower cakes again. I remember Zhen’er loves them. Prepare the carriage. I’ll go buy some for her.”
Qingli nodded, “Yes, I’ll have the horse readied.”
The carriage stopped at East Street. Shen Shu entered Pang’s pastry shop and looked up at the signboard. She said to the lively shop girl, “One of each of these two, please.”
“Of course! Just a moment,” the girl responded with a warm smile.
The weather suddenly turned gloomy. Outside, merchants and travelers whispered,
“Looks like rain’s coming.”
“Swallows are flying low. Might be a heavy one.”
“Did you bring an umbrella?”
“You didn’t either?!”
“Let’s go, quickly.”
Shen Shu asked, “Did we bring an umbrella?”
Qingli replied, “Yes, it’s in the carriage.”
“Go fetch it, just in case it starts soon.”
“Yes.” Qingli handed her the coin pouch. “I’ll be right back.”
Moments later, Shen Shu felt someone close behind her. Thinking it was Qingli, she asked, “Why so fast?”
No response.
The autumn wind brushed past her ears. A tall figure behind her blocked out the light. Shen Shu’s heartbeat dropped sharply.
A man’s warm voice spoke: “Liu Che, Hong Pei of the Hong family, and the Marquis of Huaixi — which one do you prefer?”
Shen Shu turned, looking up with luminous eyes, and said gently, “Lord Zhou, you misunderstand.”
That “Lord Zhou” was spoken with such softness, without any trace of distance or calculation — like lovers whispering to each other.
Zhou Shu’an knew there was some acting in her tone, and knew better than to trust those eyes — but still, his heart tightened.
He looked at her pursed lips and asked no further. Shen Shu, unsure if she was overthinking, hurried to explain in a low voice, “You need not worry. I won’t—”
Before the word “marry” could leave her lips, Zhou Shu’an cut her off, eyes fixed on her, his voice low and deep: “What if I do worry?”
Shen Shu was stunned.
Clearly, his words carried more meaning.
She bit her lower lip with her white teeth, trembling slightly. The motion was slow but forceful, enough to make one ache for that delicate mouth.
“From the eighteenth of the tenth month last year until now — three hundred and ten days.” Zhou Shu’an looked into her eyes. “Shen Shu, I can no longer be a gentleman when it comes to you.”
Shen Shu grabbed his sleeve. “What do you mean by that, Lord Zhou?”
Raindrops tapped on the eaves. The man suddenly leaned in, whispering in her ear, “I’ll ask one more time — will you marry me?”
Shen Shu instinctively stepped back.
Zhou Shu’an saw the movement and gave a barely audible laugh. “Then wait, Miss Shen.”
She looked dazed, speechless for a while. Behind her, the shopkeeper’s voice grew louder. “Miss! Miss!”
Shen Shu snapped back to attention and reached out to take the flower cakes.
“Six coins,” said the shopkeeper.
Shen Shu didn’t respond.
Zhou Shu’an reached out and paid instead. The shopkeeper received the money cautiously.
Then, Shen Shu saw the man turn and walk away.
He held an umbrella, disappearing into the misty rain of the alleyway.
At that moment, Qingli came running up and whispered, “Was that—”
“Mm,” Shen Shu closed her eyes. “It was him.”
Back in the carriage, Qingli noticed the furrow in her mistress’s brow and asked softly, “Miss, what did Lord Zhou say?”
“He asked me if I’d marry him.”
Qingli covered her mouth in shock. “Did he threaten you?”
Shen Shu shook her head. “No. If he wanted to, he would’ve long ago.”
“Then what did he mean?”
“I can’t guess.”
She couldn’t guess — and her heart was inexplicably uneasy.
—
By noon, thick clouds had fully covered the sun. Shen Shu got off the carriage and knocked on the gates of Duke Zhenguo’s residence.
The steward recognized her immediately. “Please, this way, Miss Shen.”
Passing the garden pond, she entered Su Ning Hall. Inside, Shen Zhen turned and called, “Sister!”
“I brought you flower cakes,” Shen Shu said, lifting the box.
As they ate and chatted, Shen Zhen noticed her sister’s distraction and asked gently, “Sister, is something on your mind?”
“Is it that obvious?”
Shen Zhen nodded. “You keep answering questions with unrelated replies. Didn’t you sleep well?”
“Maybe.”
“Then you should go back and rest before the rain worsens and the roads get slippery.”
“I’ll go pay respects to the Princess and the Old Madam first.”
“I’ll come with you.”
—
A cool breeze and pattering rain.
Lu Yan was summoned to the palace after work. By the time he returned, it was past late.
The room was empty. He asked Tang Yue, “Where’s Madam?”
“She’s in the bathing room.”
Lu Yan’s eyes shifted toward the bathing room, brow twitching at the sight of rising steam.
A few days ago, he’d helped her bathe — purely out of concern for her mobility, no untoward thoughts at the time.
But once inside, as clothes came off one by one, he realized how foolishly he’d underestimated temptation.
From the back, she didn’t look very pregnant — her waist and legs still slim. But when she turned around — it was another matter entirely.
Her skin glowed like white jade under the candlelight. As he helped her into the tub, shoulders and collarbones shimmered with water.
Further down — an utterly captivating sight.
And all he could do was touch, maybe tease. Nothing more. Then, a sudden nosebleed.
Two drops fell into the water, spreading crimson.
Lu Yan had never felt so humiliated in his life.
Back in the room, he sipped tea, trying to calm himself while reading a book. As he turned a page, the door creaked open.
He turned to see her — long black hair, pale skin — approaching him.
“When did you get back?” she asked.
“Just now.”
She opened a jar of oil — one she made herself to prevent stretch marks.
Lu Yan frowned slightly.
Since that nosebleed incident, he’d avoided touching her. To her, this made him seem even more noble and restrained — so she was growing bolder.
Look at her now.
Climbing into bed, lifting her belly wrap, applying oil before him. Then turning, she asked, “Can you help me with my back?”
Lu Yan: “…”
If I help you… will you help me?
“I’ll call Qingxi.”
“And you?”
Irritated and unable to restrain himself, he snapped, “Do I look idle to you?”
She turned away silently.
Lu Yan left and instantly regretted it. Maybe he should go back and help — but did he really want to torture himself?
Later, he told Qingxi to go in.
He spent the night between his study and the courtyard gazebo.
Under towering trees and rustling winds, Lu Yan looked up at the sky, calculating how soon she might give birth.
They’d talked about living separately — out of caution.
He feared he might lose control one day and harm her again. That one nosebleed had been enough. He couldn’t risk another incident.
He’d told her seriously last month that he wouldn’t sleep in the main room anymore.
What did she say?
She hugged him and whispered, “But I don’t see you at all during the day…”
Yes, she’d changed. Even Tang Yue said she smiled more now.
This — this was probably who the third young lady of Yunyang Marquis’s family was meant to be.
Spoiled, clingy — it was all natural to her.
Even her tantrums.
She was never meant to live so timidly.
A gust of wind blew leaves down onto the stone path. She was probably asleep. Lu Yan stood and went inside.
Her breathing was steady.
He lay down quietly, reaching to touch her belly — a nightly ritual. It was growing day by day.
Suddenly, her belly moved.
He froze, fingers trembling. This… was his first child.
Instinctively, he touched again, hoping for another movement.
She turned and opened her eyes.
“Did I wake you?” he whispered.
Seizing the moment, he kissed her earlobe.
She shyly pulled away — he pulled her back.
“I’m thirsty,” she murmured.
He got up, poured water.
She sipped. “It’s a bit cold.”
“I’ll warm it.” He left, returned with a fresh cup. “Here.”
She sipped again, then gazed at him. “A bit hot.”
He took the cup, drank from it, and smirked. “Hot, huh?”
She tried to get up.
“Where are you going?”
“I’ll pour it myself.”
He raised an eyebrow.
Fine.
“Sit back down,” Lu Yan muttered, resigned, and turned back to pour yet another cup…
T/N – for some reason I fell very satisfied when Shen Zhen bully Lu Yan for a change.😂
