The commotion surrounding Huo Shuyi’s scandal quickly reached Shen Lingzhen’s ears.
A troubled household always leaves people uneasy. Shen Lingzhen considered sending Jian Jia to find out what had happened, but was gently dissuaded by Ji Momo. “You’re kind-hearted, Young Madam, but Eldest Young Lady has never been close to you. Why go out of your way to repay hostility with kindness? Just focus on living well with your husband, there’s no need to concern yourself with others.”
“But as the saying goes, ‘A harmonious home brings prosperity.’ Eldest Young Lady is still my husband’s sister, how can she be considered as ‘others’?”
“Even among siblings, there are degrees of closeness. From what this old servant sees, Master and Eldest Miss aren’t particularly close.”
“What makes you say that, Momo?”
Ji Momo motioned for Jian Jia and Bailu to close the windows and leave the room. Only then did she lower her eyes and say, “Forgive me for speaking out of turn.”
“Please go ahead.”
“These past few days, you must have noticed, this household is run by Young Master. Old Madam holds no real authority in front of him. In fact, she seems rather deferential.”
Shen Lingzhen had sensed this as early as the day after her wedding. She nodded. “I assumed it was because my Mother-in-law isn’t his birth mother, but his stepmother. Is there more to it?”
“It’s not exactly a hidden secret. Here’s what happened: ten years ago, the birth father of Eldest and Second Young Ladies—General Shu—died in Western Qiang while rescuing Young Master from the war camp. The Shu family fell into decline. At the time, Madam was pregnant with Second Young Lady, and Hexi had just been occupied by the Western Qiang tribes. With no home to return to, she wandered the land with her older daughter, a widow and orphan, until Master eventually found them.”
“This old servant suspects that perhaps Master and Madam never truly shared the bond of husband and wife. The reason he accepted her and her two daughters into the household may have been out of guilt, or because he was entrusted with their care by General Shu.”
That would explain why Yu Wanjiang faded into obscurity after arriving at the Huo residence. It seems the so-called marriage was merely a formality, meant to give the three women a place to settle, and to avoid gossip.
“So that’s how it is.” Shen Lingzhen furrowed her brows. “Why are you only telling me this now? Ever since my Imperial Uncle arranged this marriage, I’ve asked both my mother[mfn]I can never decide if you should write these with capital letters😭 [/mfn] and my imperial grandmother about the Huo family. Yet all of you have been evasive, skirting around the truth. If not for these recent events forcing your hand, you would never have revealed a single word.”
Ji Momo lowered her gaze. “Please don’t be angry, Young Madam.”
Shen Lingzhen was silent for a moment, then sighed and shook her head. “You’ve served my mother for many years. If you’re acting this way, I suppose it’s because she instructed you to. I don’t blame you. But now, I must ask you plainly: is there anything else about the Huo family, anything that concerns me, hat I still don’t know? Tell me everything, truthfully.”
Ji Momo shook her head. “There’s nothing more, Young Madam.”
But if it were just trivial old matters, why go to such lengths to conceal them? Shen Lingzhen looked at Ji Momo with suspicion, sensing that perhaps something deeper had happened, ten years ago, or even during the chaos twenty-seven years prior.
“Young Madam, the Duke used to say that one should live in the present, not dwell on the past, nor worry excessively about the future. This old servant believes that instead of pondering those things, you might do better to focus on what’s happening now. Think about why Eldest Young Lady quarreled with both Young Master and Madam today.” Ji Momo smiled. “Eldest Young Lady has always been at odds with you. Now that she’s suffered a setback, it seems that Young Master has finally stood up for you. Because of his guilt toward the Shu family, he used to tolerate her recklessness. But now he’s willing to speak on your behalf, what does that tell you? You should be glad.”
Shen Lingzhen hesitated, thinking to herself: of course this meant Huo Liuxing had feelings for her. She already knew that, but strangely, she didn’t feel particularly happy about it.
His willingness to risk his life for her was a love so heavy, she didn’t know how to repay it.
Recalling the awkwardness of that morning, she touched her nose and sighed. “Momo, you’re right. I haven’t even sorted out what’s in front of me.” Then she asked softly, “Momo, do you know how one comes to feel romantic affection for someone?”
Ji Momo was taken aback. “You mean, how you might develop romantic feelings for someone, not how someone might fall for you?”
“Exactly,” Shen Lingzhen replied with conviction. “You think it’s hard too, don’t you?”
Ji Momo was still hesitating when Shen Lingzhen nodded to herself, as if she’d made up her mind. “If you work at it long enough, even an iron pestle can be ground into a needle. I shouldn’t let a moment of awkwardness scare me off. I’ll go find my husband and talk to him more. That’s always good for building affection.”
When Jian Jia and Bailu heard that Young Madam was fretting over how to grow closer to her husband, they immediately offered suggestions. “Food is the way to a man’s heart,” they said. “Why not make something and bring it to him?”
They had clearly misunderstood Shen Lingzhen’s intentions, thinking she wanted to curry favor with Huo Liuxing. But she didn’t mind the idea at all.
Huo Liuxing had said he was fond of her, yet half the day had passed and he hadn’t made any effort to approach her. Perhaps he simply didn’t know how. She would set an example and give him a little nudge.
The only problem was, Shen Lingzhen had never cooked before. She couldn’t whip up a lavish feast. And with the heat of midsummer settling in, heavy food would only make people feel sluggish. So she took Jian Jia and Bailu’s advice and decided to make a simple bowl of lychee syrup water.
Lychee syrup water and sour plum soup were the two most popular summer drinks, perfect for quenching thirst and cooling the body.
She hadn’t had time to eat lunch properly, and by midday, she was wheeling herself around the kitchen with Jian Jia and Bailu’s help, busying herself with the preparation. Once the syrup was ready and cooled, she had them deliver portions to Madam and the two young ladies, then carefully filled a bowl, packed it into a food box, and brought it to Huo Liuxing’s study herself.
Huo Liuxing had already heard the commotion in the kitchen and wondered what she was up to. Seeing her drag her frail body all the way to him, just to deliver a bowl of lychee syrup water, he was momentarily stunned. “You spent half the day in the kitchen just for this?” he asked.
Shen Lingzhen blinked, then pouted. “What do you mean ‘just for this’? I put my heart into it, and now it sounds like it’s worth nothing to you. Do you not like lychee syrup water?”
Huo Liuxing truly didn’t care for sweets. Just hearing the name made his mouth feel sticky. He had no desire to try it.
But seeing her so aggrieved, though his heart said no, his mouth betrayed him: “It’s not that.”
Beside him, Kongqing, who knew his tastes inside out, visibly stiffened.
Huo Liuxing explained, “I meant that this kind of work should be left to the servants. There’s no need for you to tire yourself out. If you were to get hurt doing this, how could I possibly be at ease?”
Shen Lingzhen brightened again. “Then please try it. This lychee syrup water becomes all the rage in Bianjing every midsummer. Many young nobles love it, especially after a game of cuju[mfn]Basically football [/mfn], when they’re drenched in sweat. One bowl, and they feel instantly refreshed.”
“You’ve been to a cuju field before?”
She shook her head. “Not really. I only heard about it from Brother Jie.”
Huo Liuxing’s hand, which had reached for the bowl, paused mid-air.
Seeing his reaction, Shen Lingzhen guessed he might not know who Xue Jie was, and quickly explained, “Oh, perhaps you’re unfamiliar. Brother Jie is my Aunt’s eldest son—my maternal cousin. Compared to my Imperial Uncle’s side, I’m actually closer to this cousin.”
“Oh, I know. Of course I know. I’m well aware of how close you are to him.” Huo Liuxing smiled warmly, but his hand quietly withdrew from the bowl.
“You’re not going to drink it?”
He shook his head. “Suddenly feeling a bit full. I’ll have it later.”
Shen Lingzhen didn’t press him, but watching him lower his head and bury himself in that scripture he never seemed to tire of reading, she couldn’t help feeling a little stifled.
How was she supposed to develop feelings for someone so distant?
She had thought it best to leave last night’s events unspoken, to avoid awkwardness. But now, she felt that silence wouldn’t solve anything. With a sigh, she asked, “Young Master, have you ever liked another girl before?”
“Of course,” Huo Liuxing replied, lifting his head.
Kongqing froze. Another girl? Did Young Madam think that Master had someone he liked now?
That couldn’t be right.
But he didn’t deny it, in fact, he said “of course”?
Shen Lingzhen nodded. “Well, that explains it.”
Huo Liuxing, seeing her expression, had no idea what dramatic conclusion she was about to draw. He paused and asked, “What do you mean?”
“Just now, Jian Jia and Bailu told me that if you want someone’s heart, you have to make an effort, please them, cater to their tastes. But you don’t even know what I like. Instead, you’ve grown more distant.”
“…” Huo Liuxing coughed awkwardly. “Ah, I haven’t done well.”
Shen Lingzhen looked troubled. “Young Master, I know I should be the one working to repay your kindness. But some things can’t be done by one person alone. You should at least help a little.”
Huo Liuxing coughed again, even more awkwardly. “You mentioned catering to someone’s tastes, so, what kind of person do you like?”
Kongqing’s gaze toward him shifted dramatically.
“Hmm…” Shen Lingzhen hesitated. “Honestly, I like someone skilled in martial arts. But you… well, right now, I’m afraid you’re not…”
“I can do that,” Huo Liuxing said
Huo Liuxing responded as swiftly as wind and lightning. Even he hadn’t quite registered what he’d just said. Slowly turning his head, he glanced at Kongqing. “Did I just say ‘I can do that’?”
Kongqing nodded vigorously, as if he was pounding garlic. “You did indeed, Young Master!”
Huo Liuxing sighed helplessly. “Then let’s go to the training grounds.”
Shen Lingzhen was stunned.
Huo Liuxing set aside his scripture, gestured for Kongqing to pack the lychee syrup water back into the food box for later, and wheeled himself out of the study ahead of them.
Seeing Shen Lingzhen still frozen in place, he turned back and sighed. “Didn’t you say I should make an effort and cater to your tastes? Come with me to the training grounds, I’ll show you what ‘skilled in martial arts’ really means.”
