Chapter 35: Entering the Qi Household (1)

Early the next morning, Shen Xiling rose at the hour of Yin—before dawn, when the sky was still dark.

Having heard Qi Ying say he would take her to the Qi family estate that day, she had hurriedly packed her belongings the night before. Fortunately, she didn’t own much—a single modest-sized chest sufficed. Inside, she placed one set of her own clothes, the two fox lanterns she had received the previous night, and… the long fur coat Qi Ying had draped over her during their first meeting.

Come to think of it, she had worn two of Qi Ying’s garments. One was this fur coat, and the other was the cloak he had wrapped around her after she fell asleep at the door of Wangshi. Later, she returned the cloak, but she kept the fur coat. She had no ulterior motive; it simply felt inappropriate to return it since it had covered her mother’s remains. By keeping it, she could honor her mother’s memory—and…

This was a secret Shen Xiling kept to herself, one she couldn’t share with others.

After packing her things late into the night, she hadn’t slept well. Rising early in the hour of Yin, she put on her outer garment and stood by the door of her room, watching for any movement near Qi Ying’s quarters. Not long after, she spotted him. Qingzhu and Baisong were by his side as they headed toward the main gate.

Qi Ying noticed Shen Xiling in the dim light of dawn and was surprised. He walked over to her, finding the young girl already neatly dressed and ready to go out. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, “Why are you up so early?”

Shen Xiling blinked, tilting her head slightly. “Huh? Didn’t Master say you’d take me to the Qi household today?”

Qi Ying paused for a moment, then said, “…But I have to attend court first.”

Shen Xiling: “… “

She hadn’t considered this at all. After the Lantern Festival, the New Year celebrations were over, and since it wasn’t a rest day, Qi Ying naturally had to attend the morning court session.

Embarrassed, Shen Xiling lowered her head.

A flicker of amusement passed through Qi Ying’s eyes. The girl was too endearing, prompting him to reach out and gently pat her hair. His voice softened as he said, “Go back to sleep for a bit. I’ll come get you when I return.”

This was the first time Qi Ying had treated Shen Xiling with such familiarity. Both of them froze momentarily. Realizing his gesture might be inappropriate, he quickly withdrew his hand. However, Shen Xiling still felt the lingering warmth of his touch on her hair, leaving her a bit wistful.

They both fell silent for a while.

Finally, Qi Ying broke the silence with a soft cough. “Go back inside—it’s cold out here.”

Seeing him about to leave, Shen Xiling grew anxious and impulsively grabbed his sleeve. When he turned to look at her, she quickly pulled her hand back, her face flushing.

Qi Ying asked, “What is it?”

Shen Xiling fidgeted with her fingers, hesitating before murmuring, “I-I just wondered… do I look presentable enough?”

Qi Ying studied her. The girl was dressed simply yet neatly, her hair combed tidily, exuding an air of quiet gentleness. Her expression, however, was tense, like a solemn little nun.

After a moment’s thought, he replied, “Go back to sleep for a bit, or your complexion will suffer.”

Indeed, perhaps due to her restless night, there were faint shadows under her eyes.

When Shen Xiling heard this, she instinctively covered her face, feeling self-conscious about her appearance. Dejected, she nodded softly.

A trace of amusement crossed Qi Ying’s eyes again. He told her, “I must be going now. Rest well—I’ll send someone to help you dress after I return.”

Shen Xiling obediently nodded, as docile and adorable as a kitten, softening Qi Ying’s gaze. With that, he left, and Shen Xiling watched him disappear from sight.

Once back inside, Shen Xiling glanced at herself in the mirror. Sure enough, there were dark circles under her eyes, prompting her to cover her face in embarrassment. Normally, she didn’t pay much attention to her appearance, but this was the first time she felt awkward and regretful about it. This new sensation lingered in her heart for some time, eventually lulling her into sleep.

She hadn’t intended to nap, but exhaustion crept up on her. Perhaps it was because she had slept so little the previous night, or perhaps the room was too warm. Either way, she drifted off deeply. By the time the maids woke her, it was nearly mid-morning, and Qi Ying had already returned from court.

The two maids who came to wake her were unfamiliar faces—one named Shui Pei, the other Feng Chang. They introduced themselves as being sent by Master Qi to help her prepare. Both women were meticulous and skilled, attending to her grooming and dressing on either side. Shen Xiling, who had never been served like this before, felt incredibly uncomfortable. Seeing her stiffness, the two sisters giggled behind their hands, complimenting her beauty. After a lengthy process, they finally led her out of the room.

They styled Shen Xiling’s hair in the most fashionable manner among Jiankang’s noblewomen that year and dressed her in a new outfit—a pale purple gown embroidered with white plum blossoms. The fabric was luxurious, the embroidery exquisite, paired with a light-colored jacket trimmed with rabbit fur. She looked like a delicate porcelain doll.

Shen Xiling had never worn such elaborate hairstyles or fine garments before, and every part of her felt ill at ease. Despite her humble upbringing, her demeanor carried the poise of a true noblewoman. Though her father hadn’t raised her within the aristocracy, her education had always been refined. Wearing this ensemble, Shen Xiling didn’t appear out of place at all. On the contrary, she seemed born to live a life of luxury.

As Shui Pei and Feng Chang escorted her from her room to Wangshi, servants along the way stole glances at her, making Shen Xiling feel rather awkward. Upon reaching Wangshi, Baisong was standing guard by the door as usual. Catching sight of her, he momentarily froze, a flicker of admiration passing through his eyes. He smiled, nodding at her.

Shen Xiling’s flushed cheeks, which had been red all morning, still hadn’t cooled. She greeted Baisong shyly and followed the two sisters inside.

When Qi Ying raised his eyes to the doorway, he first caught sight of Shen Xiling’s skirt hem, then watched her step in. His gaze lingered on the red mole between her brows and the blush staining her cheeks.

This reminded him of the first time he saw her.

Back then, the girl had been clad in simple clothing, sitting disheveled in the snow. Her pallor blended almost seamlessly with the surrounding whiteness. The first thing he noticed was the red mole between her brows, like a delicate floral adornment, the only color on her otherwise pale figure.

Later, after bringing her to Fenghe Garden, she remained dressed simply. He had never paid much attention to women’s attire, so he hadn’t found anything amiss until Zhao Yao’s visit yesterday.

Sometimes, Qi Ying found himself comparing Shen Xiling to Zhao Yao. For instance, when he noticed Zhao Yao’s nails painted with henna while Shen Xiling’s hands bore frostbite, he felt uneasy. Similarly, when he saw Zhao Yao dressed in luxurious fabrics and Shen Xiling in plain clothes, he also felt uneasy.

Last night, amidst the opulence of the lantern festival, Zhao Yao’s vibrant attire and lively demeanor had charmed everyone. Yet, Qi Ying couldn’t help but think of Shen Xiling—the ever-cautious, downcast girl. For some reason, he kept imagining: what if she wore such finery? What if she were pampered and cherished by others? What would she look like?

Today, he had his answer.

Qi Ying was a man indifferent to material things, least of all appearances. Yet, even he had always known Shen Xiling was beautiful. But seeing her now, meticulously groomed and dressed, she appeared far lovelier than he had anticipated. Last night, Xiao Ziheng had warned him that her beauty might pose a danger, a comment Qi Ying hadn’t taken seriously at the time. Now, however, he fully agreed.

Entering Wangshi, Shen Xiling noticed Qi Ying’s complex expression and serious demeanor, making her nervous. She wondered if her current appearance was inappropriate. Approaching him cautiously, she asked, “…Master?”

Snapping out of his thoughts, Qi Ying replied, “What is it?”

Shen Xiling hesitated, murmuring, “Do I… do I look inappropriate?”

She truly felt that way. The outfit was too luxurious. She was merely an orphan, dependent on others for survival, yet dressed like a noblewoman. It didn’t sit well with her.

Qi Ying understood her concerns and realized she had misunderstood him. Unable to explain further, he paused for a moment before saying, “You look perfectly fine. Very beautiful.”

His low, gentle tone sent a flush to Shen Xiling’s cheeks. Already blushing, her face now resembled blooming peach blossoms. Watching her, Qi Ying inwardly sighed: The Fourth Prince was right—she truly was… quite dangerous.

Qi Ying let out a soft sigh, cleared his throat, and said, “Let’s go.”