The capital city was bustling with people. The imperial city was still filled with a jubilant atmosphere just after the Chinese New Year's Eve. The red lanterns in the city hadn't been taken down yet, and the festive joy was everywhere.
The two girls were strolling on the street. Some strange little trinkets caught Jiaoyue's eye.
Shen Li was also having a great time beside her and didn't notice that a pair of eyes on the attic opposite was following her closely.
The girl in a warm yellow dress was putting a hairpin on her maid. In others' eyes, it was just an ordinary thing for a girl, but Xuan Yuanjue watched it with great interest.
"This little thing. She looks really good when she smiles," Xuan Yuanjue suddenly blurted out.
"If you like her, my lord, how about sending match - making gifts to the Shen family on a good day after the New Year?" Xuan Shu said beside him.
Xuan Shu was Xuan Yuanjue's attendant. He had been following Xuan Yuanjue since the latter was seven years old. They practiced martial arts and studied together. Their relationship was as good as that of real brothers, so their conversation was quite casual.
"I can't say I like her," Xuan Yuanjue said without taking his eyes off Shen Li. "I'm just interested in her."
Xuan Shu kept silent. He calculated dozens of possible outcomes in his mind. Finally, he could only stand with his lord by the window and silently watch the two girls.
Shen Li took Jiaoyue around, looking at everything. Before they knew it, they had walked to the entrance of the Night Shadow Department.
Looking at the three characters 'Night Shadow Department' on the high plaque, Shen Li was filled with mixed feelings.
She always knew that her parents were on missions outside, but they had been away for many years. This made Shen Li, who had not tasted parental love for a long time, very sad.
Fortunately, her elder brother, Shen Yi, was still working in the Night Shadow Department, assisting the priest. So in this life, she wouldn't be homeless.
Shen Li led Jiaoyue into the Night Shadow Department. According to her memory, she skillfully found the place where Shen Yi usually handled official business.
The guard at the door saluted immediately when he saw Shen Li coming and respectfully called out, "Miss."
Shen Li didn't say anything. She just raised her hand, signaling him to get up, and put her index finger in front of her lips. "Be quiet. I'll go in by myself."
Jiaoyue went forward to push open the door and lifted the heavy curtain for Shen Li.
Shen Yi had been in poor health since childhood. He should have been a good martial - arts practitioner, but due to his physical condition, he couldn't practice martial arts and could only do some clerical work.
However, Shen Yi had a very profound knowledge of military strategy. He was very meticulous and could notice the tiny details that ordinary people couldn't. It was precisely because of Shen Yi and Shen Li, these two capable assistants, that Xiao Hanzhi in the previous life was able to ascend to the throne smoothly.
Just thinking about the previous life, when Shen Li heard Shen Miao say that her elder brother had been made a human swine by Xiao Hanzhi before she died, her heart felt sour.
Shen Li walked into the inner room and saw Shen Yi dealing with official business. Tears welled up in her eyes uncontrollably.
Shen Yi was wearing a silver - white long robe with cuffed sleeves and a light - white inner garment. His black hair was tied in a dark - colored hat decorated with white jade, looking very delicate.
Because of his poor health, he was still wrapped in a dark - blue fox fur cloak even in such a warm room.
Seeing Shen Yi like this, Shen Li couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief. It was really good. Her brother was still the healthy one.
"Big brother," Shen Li wiped away her tears and called out softly to him.
Shen Yi immediately looked up, his face full of surprise. "Sister, why did you come here today?"
Shen Yi had doted on Shen Li since childhood. With their parents away, the siblings were even closer.
As an elder brother who couldn't practice martial arts to protect his sister, he naturally had to give her more love. So whenever Shen Li asked him for something, he almost always said yes.
However, Shen Li preferred to stay in her second uncle's mansion. She rarely came to see him except when she had something to do.
Shen Li's coming today was really a pleasant surprise.
"I took Jiaoyue out for a stroll and just ended up here," Shen Li said with a smile. In fact, she had a hidden motive for taking Jiaoyue out of the mansion as soon as she woke up. She missed Shen Yi so much that she just took the opportunity of going out to play to come here.
Jiaoyue curtsied when she saw Shen Yi, helped Shen Li take off her cloak, and then stepped aside.
The siblings sat on either side of the wooden couch. There was a small table on the couch, and on the table was chestnut cake, which Shen Li liked.
Looking at the chestnut cake, Shen Li's throat tightened.
She had always known that Shen Yi loved her. After being reborn, she understood even more what it meant to cherish the people around her.
"How have you been recently, brother?" Shen Li tried hard to hold back her emotions and steady her voice, for fear that her voice would tremble too much and let Shen Yi notice something was wrong.
Shen Yi was completely immersed in the joy of his sister's visit. And because Shen Li had controlled her emotions well, he didn't notice anything.
"I've been fine recently. But why do you look so pale?" Shen Yi asked worriedly, looking at her slightly pale face.
Shen Li hadn't eaten anything since she woke up. She had just sipped a few mouthfuls of tea in the front hall. After the afternoon's activities and the cold outside, her face naturally looked much paler.
In response to her brother's concern, she just picked up a piece of chestnut cake in front of her, took a bite, and said with a squinted smile, "I'm just hungry."
After staying with Shen Yi for a long time, Shen Li finally left with Jiaoyue.
It was completely dark. It had started to snow outside at some point, and there was a thick layer on the ground. Shen Li and Jiaoyue stepped on the snow, and the snow made a crunching sound under their feet. The two of them had a great time.
Who would have thought that just as they got out of the alley, Shen Li saw the 'lecher' from the day coming towards them.
"Yo, little thing, we meet again," Xuan Yuanjue said with a smile on his lips, looking at the girl in front of him with deep - set eyes.
He really didn't expect to see this little thing three times today. He was overjoyed.
Xuan Shu beside him looked at Xuan Yuanjue expressionlessly and silently complained in his heart. He said he was just interested, but his mouth was almost grinning from ear to ear.
Shen Li pretended not to hear and pulled Jiaoyue around. "Jiaoyue, I tell you, I just found a shop over there. The food smells so good. I'll take you there."
She really didn't want to meet this young master of the estate. She remembered clearly what had happened at noon. Her martial arts skills hadn't recovered yet. Facing this person, she would be at his mercy.
Moreover, her name was still a big problem. Jiaoyue was still with her. She didn't want this lie to be exposed.
"Hey! Little thing!" Xuan Yuanjue saw that she was pretending not to hear and wanted to run away, so he called out again.
Shen Li still pretended to be deaf. She had just dragged Jiaoyue less than five steps when Xuan Yuanjue caught up with them. They stood face to face, less than a foot apart.
"Miss... Who is this?" Jiaoyue looked at Shen Li helplessly. She didn't know who this person was, but her intuition told her that this person must know Shen Li.
Shen Li clenched her fists and let out a long sigh. Why was this person so annoying!
Helplessly, she could no longer pretend not to see him.
"Jiaoyue, quickly salute the young master of the estate," she said and then curtsied first.