Chapter 7: The Elder Brother Returns, A Heartfelt Conversation

Shen Layue was a light sleeper. Early in the morning, she heard noises outside. Usually, something must have happened. She sat up groggily.

“Jinxin…” Her voice was hoarse. Probably due to too much thinking last night, she must have developed a slight fever.

She shook her head slightly at herself. Why rush? Not everything could be achieved overnight. She faintly curved her lips toward the bronze mirror on the table. That looked better.

Jinxin, who was in the outer room, heard her young mistress getting up and hurried in to serve her.

“Jinxin, what’s happening outside?”

Jinxin also had a joyful expression. “My lady, it’s the eldest young master—he has returned.”

Though Shen Layue had already prepared herself, she still felt a surge of surprise and joy upon hearing that Shen Shuping had returned from the border. Ever since her rebirth, she hadn’t seen her older brother yet.

“Hurry up and help me get ready. I want to go see my brother,” Layue said impatiently. Her most vivid memory of her brother was that moment of madness.

Her brother had been driven mad—driven mad by that woman and the Lian family.

After Layue had tidied herself and stepped out of the courtyard, she saw a man in military uniform standing there.

“Brother…” It turned out her brother had been waiting for her in the courtyard.

“Yue’er, come here. Let me have a look at you. How is your health?” He was referring to the incident months ago when she had fallen into the water.

Shen Layue’s eyes turned slightly red, as the image of the dashing man before her overlapped with that of the mad Shen Shuping she had seen in prison.

Seeing Layue like this, Shen Shuping grew anxious. “What’s wrong? Haven’t you recovered yet? Are you feeling unwell? I’ll call a doctor for you.”

Layue tugged at her brother’s sleeve pitifully and shook her head. “I’m fine. It’s just that I haven’t seen you for so long, I missed you.”

Shen Shuping, upon hearing this, hesitated for a moment, then dismissed the servants in the courtyard. The two of them sat at Layue’s usual resting spot.

“You’re upset about Mother’s pregnancy? Yue’er, you should know that no matter what, she is still our mother in name.”

Shen Shuping had never received such a warm welcome when he returned from previous trips. He assumed she was worried about the child in Lin’s womb today.

He hadn’t expected his sister to misunderstand him so much. She shook her head.

“Brother, it’s not because of that. If I were to be sad every time something like this happened, I would have died of sorrow long ago.” Their father’s indifference had left them both disheartened.

“Then what’s wrong?” Shen Shuping was somewhat skeptical.

“Brother, I just missed you. Soon I will be entering the palace for the selection. If I am chosen, we might not even meet once a year. Thinking about that makes me especially sad.”

Shen Shuping lightened the mood with a tease. “How do you know you’ll definitely be chosen? Shameless.”

Actually, he didn’t hope his sister would be selected. The inner palace was a complicated place. Their family background was simple; although their father held a fifth-grade official rank, it was not a powerful position. He feared that if his sister entered the palace, she would face many hardships.

However, he didn’t voice these thoughts. Since he couldn’t change these realities, he wouldn’t disturb his sister’s peace of mind.

“Even if I’m not selected, I still have to marry eventually. There’s not much difference. And I know I will be chosen. It’s just a matter of what rank I will attain. I’m confident not only because of my past memories.

“I have a trump card that will surely catch the Empress Dowager’s attention.

“And with just a few glances from her, if I use them well, at least my first step will be smooth.”

Looking at his sister’s confident expression, Shen Shuping sighed. “Since when did my little sister grow up so much?”

Layue didn’t ask Shen Shuping whether he had gone to pay his respects. She knew that although her brother sometimes acted rashly, he never made mistakes with etiquette.

“Brother, Grandmother wants me to visit the Quanquan Temple. Since Mother became pregnant after her visit, it must have been her wish fulfilled. Since I’m about to enter the palace for the selection, I should also pay a visit for peace of mind. Will you accompany me?” She looked up at her brother with a bright smile, her eyes full of hope.

“Of course,” Shen Shuping agreed without hesitation.

“Brother is so good to me.” Back then, at this time of year, her brother had returned from the border and went to her aunt’s house to pick her up for the Yulan Banquet. After that, she met her future sister-in-law. The past was like a dream. Now that she had been reborn, she would never let that sister-in-law enter the family.

He gave her a sidelong glance. “You always get your way. If not, you’d be acting differently. Don’t you know how worried I was when I heard about your drowning on my way to the border?”

His eyes were deep. In this house, the only ones who truly relied on each other were the three siblings.

“Brother.” Shen Layue held Shen Shuping’s hand, her eyes unfathomable. “I will take good care of myself. Even if not for myself, I must do it for Yiyi, for you, for Grandmother who has always taken care of us, and for the Shen family. Although Father has been indifferent to us, he hasn’t deprived us of anything, right? Second Uncle and Third Uncle haven’t treated us badly either. Even Mother and the aunts only have minor flaws. No one is perfect. I understand all of this.”

Seeing Shen Shuping about to speak, Layue pressed down on his hand and continued, “I have a way to ensure I am selected. Since I will eventually have to marry, I will make sure to gain the greatest benefit. If I become strong in the palace, the Shen family will have more protection. However, there are a few things I still hope my brother will remember.”

“You speak,” at this moment Shen Shuping unconsciously followed his sister’s words. He felt his sister seemed to have a kind of magic that made people believe in her.

“First, the Emperor is always the Emperor. If the maternal relatives become too powerful, he will be wary. Regardless of whether I am favored in the palace or not, I hope my brother will advise Grandmother and Father to be more cautious. Second, I will do my best to protect myself and not let myself get hurt, but if anything happens to you all, I won’t live either. Third, no one in the palace can be trusted. Including, my cousin. So, no matter what news you hear, you must remain calm. You can only wait.”

At this moment, Shen Shuping was already wide-eyed with shock. He had not expected these words to come from his sister. Although his sister had always been clever before, she also had a bit of youthful pride. But now, she had analyzed everything so thoroughly.

It was as if overnight, she was no longer the younger sister who needed his protection.

He nodded solemnly. “I understand. I know all of this. But, you say even Yulan cannot be trusted?” This point confused Shen Shuping a bit.

She shook her head firmly. “No one from the palace can be trusted. Unless it’s a message from me or Jinxin, you must not act rashly under any circumstances.”

“My little sister has really grown up,” Shen Shuping said in a distant tone.

“I previously received a letter from home, saying that the nurse Yu, who came to teach you etiquette, had a great influence on you. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but it seems she really helped you transform. People who have been in the palace are indeed different.”

Layue smiled slightly. “Nurse Yu was only looking out for my best interests. I’m about to enter that den of tigers and wolves. If I still remained the same person, how could I compete with them?”

Seeing her look like an innocent little girl again, Shen Shuping patted her head. “You’re still such a little girl.”

Their voices were not loud, and the surrounding area was open, so they spoke without much restraint. However, they didn’t know that just a few meters away, outside the wall, stood a middle-aged man listening to their conversation. He gave a slight sigh and nodded approvingly.

He had always known his children were sensible.

“Father, why are you standing here?” A clear voice rang out.

Shen Shuping and Shen Layue knew it was Shen Yi Yi’s voice. It turned out that in the morning, she had gone out of the courtyard to pick flowers by herself. Now, on her way back, she saw her father standing at the corner of the wall, as if he were eavesdropping.

Being a clever child, she immediately spoke loudly to alert the people inside.

After all, the old lady’s courtyard was filled with people she was close to. Her father neither loved nor paid attention to her, so she spoke loudly on purpose.

Shen Fu felt embarrassed, unsure whether to leave or stay. In a moment, Shen Shuping and Shen Layue arrived at the door. Seeing their father’s appearance, they were somewhat surprised.

“Son/daughter greets Father,” they said in unison.

Shen Fu’s face turned red with embarrassment and he looked somewhat unnatural. What was there not to understand in this situation? He had overheard their conversation.

“You two, just play together for a while. I still have things to do. I’ll go first,” he hastily said and left.

Leaving the few of them staring at each other in silence.

Finally, Shen Shuping spoke up, and they didn’t say much more. As for Layue’s matters, he would discuss them with their father.

Shen Layue naturally knew her father had overheard them. She was also aware that her father wouldn’t harm them. However, even so, she still frowned, realizing that the past few months in the Shen household had made her a bit too relaxed.

If she entered the palace, she could no longer speak so freely—it was too unsafe.

Layue silently reminded herself.

“Brother, look at the flowers Yi Yi picked for you. Aren’t they beautiful?” She had a look of wanting praise on her face.

Shen Shuping picked up his younger sister. “Beautiful. Yes, they’re also very fragrant. Yi Yi is the most considerate, and she’s the best to her brother.”

“Brother is also the best to Yi Yi.” Shen Yi Yi spoke sweetly. The two people in front of her were her most important family members, so naturally, she said whatever sounded nice.

“You, you just spoil her. Wait until she becomes too spoiled and you can’t control her anymore. Then what will you do?” It was a playful tease.

Everyone always acted like this toward their loved ones. Even if they were arrogant, domineering, or even committed many evils, they were still considered good. Of course, their little Yi Yi wasn’t like that. She was a lovely little girl.