Shen Yuning watched Old Man Zhang and Weirui bickering with each other, feeling somewhat emotional. Time really flew by. In a blink of an eye, six years had passed.
This family was constantly on the move. But as long as her family was by her side, no matter where they were, it was her home. However, now she was going to leave this home and return to the previous one.
She left the study and headed to her bedroom. Shen Fugui and Zhang Rong were packing up the trunks. Seeing her come, they quickly greeted her to come and check the items together.
Zhang Rong chattered on and on, "You should take all these things with you. I know there's everything in the Marquis Mansion, and it's a place you used to live in. But things are different now. You have to take good care of yourself. Do you understand?"
Shen Yuning's eyes turned a bit red.
Shen Fugui looked back, smiled, and patted Shen Yuning on the shoulder. "Silly girl, you're not going to a far - off place. We're all in the capital city. We can still see each other often, right?"
Shen Yuning forced a smile. Lately, she often saw Old Man Zhang standing under the corridor, staring blankly at the southern sky, so she casually asked about it.
Hearing her question, Zhang Rong slowed down her packing speed and sighed helplessly. "People say that fallen leaves return to their roots. My father misses his hometown."
Shen Yuning was stunned. Right, she was still young and didn't have a deep feeling of homesickness. Moreover, after the age of fifteen, she had been living a wandering life and didn't have a strong sense of it. But Old Man Zhang was getting old. For her sake in the past few years, he had left the small tree village and Xitian Town, constantly on the move without a moment's rest. Now that he was free, of course, he would miss his hometown.
Shen Fugui also sighed. "I originally thought that since Weirui's household register was under yours, we could move it to the Marquis Mansion together, and then we could return to Yun County. But my father - in - law disagreed. He said that you're no longer the Marquis Mansion's real daughter, and we don't know what your future will be like. In case you have a hard time and want to leave, we'll be waiting for you, so you won't be alone. Besides, if Weirui's household register is moved to the Marquis Mansion, I'm afraid the Marquis Mansion will look down on you."
Old Man Zhang always thought things through carefully.
Shen Yuning's eyes became even redder. Since there were people in her bedroom and study, she quickly walked outside to a tree and covered her face, crying.
After moving back to the Marquis Mansion, she didn't feel any discomfort. No one in the Marquis Mansion showed any special reaction. It seemed that the second young lady of the Marquis Mansion had just been on a long - distance trip, just a rather long one.
Her courtyard had been redecorated by Lady Shao. It was still the same as before, and even the decorations were in the old style. But Shen Yuning was observant and found that although the styles were the same, all the things were newly made.
Xue Yuxin accompanied her in. The mammy and two maids who came out to greet them were actually the ones she used to have.
Shen Yuning was a bit overjoyed. She thought that after she was driven out, Xue Yujiao would surely not let them off.
Mammy Shuang noticed her confusion and quickly stepped forward with a smile. "Back then, when the second madam wanted to sell us off, it was the old madam who was kind - hearted and sent us to the estate. We never thought that we would be able to come back in our lifetime and serve the young lady again."
For a moment, the mistress and servants all had red eyes. They were both laughing and crying.
Xue Yuxin and Shen Yuning rolled on the bed just like when they were children. They were really happy. Mammy Shuang was also rare and didn't, as before, patiently persuade them to behave like proper young ladies.
After chatting for a while, Xue Yuxin said again, "By the way, you don't have any polo clothes, do you? It's too late to make them now. Let's go to my courtyard and pick some. Later, we'll have them altered. We're going to play polo in a few days."
After Shen Yuning returned to the capital, even if someone sent invitations, she would decline all the activities if she could. She didn't want to see other people's looks or cause any trouble. It was just too much of a hassle.
But Xue Yuxin didn't agree. She said that now Shen Yuning was no longer a rural noblewoman from a foreign land but the daughter of the Marquis Mansion. Naturally, she should go out in style. She should also surprise those who used to look down on her.
Shen Yuning pinched her sister's face. "Why has your temper become even more willful after a few years? Aren't you afraid that my future brother - in - law will dislike you?"
Xue Yuxin rolled her eyes. "Humph, he dares not to like me."
Shen Yuning burst out laughing and nodded. "Yes, yes, yes. My sister is the best and most beautiful young lady in the world. How dare he not like you?"
Xue Yuxin blushed a bit and gave her a reproachful look. "What are you talking nonsense about? You're saying I'm willful, but I think you've lost your pride from childhood after a few years. You're as timid as a mouse."
Mammy Shuang also noticed that her former mistress's temperament had changed. Seeing that the eldest young lady was speaking without restraint, she quickly smiled and said, "That's right. The young lady has become more calm over the years. She's grown into a big girl. We servants are happy just looking at her."
In a blink of an eye, it was the day of the polo game. The two beautiful daughters of the Xue family appeared on the polo field full of vigor again. Even after so many years, their appearance in red shirts, holding polo mallets, still caught the attention of the nobles.
However, Shen Yuning was a bit timid. She secretly said to her sister, "To be honest, I haven't played for so many years. My skills are rusty. I'm afraid I'll hold you back later."
Xue Yuxin rolled her eyes again. "If you dare to hold me back, I'll break your legs."
Shen Yuning pouted. "Tsk, my sister is so fierce. She's become even fiercer over the years."
The two of them laughed and walked towards their own rest shed.
In polo, at first it was the ladies' turn, then the young men's, and then the young ladies'. Sometimes, young men and young ladies would play together and be divided into teams.
At this moment, not everyone had arrived, so the game hadn't started yet.
Shen Yuning and Xue Yuxin had been sitting for a while when Cheng Hongguang walked over.
It had only been two months since they last met at the princess's villa, but Cheng Hongguang seemed to have lost a lot of weight, and the sparkle in his eyes was no longer there.
After all, they were old acquaintances. The three of them greeted each other, and Xue Yuxin invited Cheng Hongguang to have some tea.
Cheng Hongguang drank the tea silently. After a long time, he looked up and smiled at Shen Yuning. "I haven't congratulated you yet, Sister Yuning, on returning to the Xue family and becoming a daughter of the Xue family again."
Shen Yuning noticed the hesitation in his tone. It seemed that his congratulations were not very sincere. She couldn't help but feel a bit curious and asked with concern, "Brother Cheng, do you have something on your mind?"
However, Cheng Hongguang averted his eyes. After a long time, he shook his head, then put down the teacup. He looked at Shen Yuning again, with a sad smile on his face. He stood up and said goodbye.
Before he could leave, he hesitated and asked, "Sister Yuning, if I wait a little longer, wait a little longer, is it possible that..."
Shen Yuning was confused. "Is it possible that what?"
Cheng Hongguang seemed to gather all his courage. "Is it possible that we could be together?"
Before Shen Yuning could speak, Xue Yuxin pulled her sister aside. She looked at Cheng Hongguang seriously and raised her voice a bit. "Young Master Cheng!"
Cheng Hongguang was startled by Xue Yuxin's shout. Then he came to his senses, and the glimmer in his eyes disappeared. He just bowed deeply. "I was too abrupt. I hope the two younger sisters won't blame me."
After saying this, he turned around and walked away in a hurry.
Xue Yuxin puffed out her cheeks. She pulled Shen Yuning to sit down together, threw the handkerchief in her hand on the table, and glared at Shen Yuning angrily.
Shen Yuning asked in bewilderment, "What does this mean?"
Xue Yuxin rolled her eyes impatiently. "What were you going to answer him just now? Don't tell me you still have feelings for him and are still hoping to be with him?"
Shen Yuning frowned and shook her head. "Don't talk nonsense. There was never any real affection between him and me."
But as she said this, there was a bit of sourness. They used to be betrothed. They had known each other since childhood. At that time, she thought that her future was set. The elders of the Cheng family all liked her, and Cheng Hongguang was gentle and affectionate. She thought they might live a good life together.
But the world was unpredictable. It was really a lie to say that she wasn't sad when they had no more connection. Maybe her heart had been hurt too much by Xue Yuxuan and Lady Xiao at that time, so she didn't have many feelings for Cheng Hongguang.
Now when she thought about it, there was even a faint sense of relief.
Yes, a predictable life was indeed happy and peaceful, but it wasn't what she really wanted. Cheng Hongguang, that man, was originally destined to be her fiancé. She never thought much about it, but perhaps she didn't like him.
Xue Yuxin looked at her expression carefully. Seeing that although she looked a bit melancholy, there was no sign of regret. She quickly said, "I heard that last time at the princess's mansion, after Brother Cheng saw you, he went back and insisted on marrying you as his wife. But the Cheng family... Madam Cheng didn't agree. She chose a girl from his paternal aunt's family for him, and they've already made the engagement."
It wasn't just Madam Cheng who didn't agree. It was probably the whole Cheng family. At the princess's villa, she was just a rural noblewoman, not a real daughter of the Xue family. Cheng Hongguang was the eldest grandson of the Cheng family. How could he marry a merchant's daughter as his wife?
No wonder Madam Cheng had indirectly asked Madam Zhu to invite her to meet, given her such precious gifts, and said that she regarded her as her own daughter.
Shen Yuning sighed softly. High - ranking families had their own rules. Having been born into such a family, how could she not understand? But when it came to herself, no matter how she thought about it, she felt a bit sad.
She thought silently. Although she didn't like Cheng Hongguang, she still thought he lacked a bit of courage. If it were the person she loved, even if their family backgrounds didn't match, she would be steadfast, unless he said he didn't love her himself.
Xue Yuxin waved her hand in front of Shen Yuning's eyes and said, "What are you thinking about? Actually, I've always wanted to ask you. You're already at this age. In the past, it was difficult for you to get engaged because you were in the merchant register. But now it's different. You're a rural noblewoman and an adopted daughter of the Xue family. There are a lot of people lining up to propose marriage to you in front of my mother. Do you have any thoughts?"
Shen Yuning's heart trembled slightly. Thoughts? If her sister had asked her this before, she could have firmly said that she didn't want to get married for the time being and had no thoughts about marriage at all. What she wanted more was to travel all over the Great Zhou and continue the work of popularizing the law.
But at this moment, her heart felt heavy, and she just couldn't say that she still had a lot of things to do.
She quickly drove out that inexplicable feeling in her heart. Xuanzhi was just her younger brother. She cared about him just because he was the child who used to rely on her.
Yes, she hadn't asked clearly yet why Xuanzhi refused to recognize her.