Chapter 11: Daughters

The State Preceptor’s manor was divided into a front compound and a rear compound. The master lived in the front courtyard, while the people of the Twelve Gates lived in the rear courtyard. A thick wall separated the two, and those from the rear compound were not permitted to casually enter the front compound.

The entire manor was orderly and disciplined, with a clear distinction between front and rear.

Jiang Buyu led Shen Sheng deeper into the manor. Along the way, they barely saw anyone; everywhere was clean and spotless.

Shen Sheng recalled the vast, seemingly deserted manor house and curiously asked the girl, “Why can’t I see any serving maids or old women in your home?”

“They finish cleaning and then leave; they don’t linger. The maids in the courtyard also stick to their own courtyards and don’t wander about casually.” Jiang Buyu strained to keep up with Shen Sheng’s pace, secretly sizing her up. She was tall, with a slender frame and upright features, a righteous aura radiating from her entire being.

In her heart, a very good first impression was formed.

Shen Sheng’s thought, however, was that the State Preceptor’s manor had strict, severe rules, comparable to a military camp.

Military camps had strict discipline, forbidding casual movement. How was the State Preceptor Manor any different from a military camp?

Glancing again at the small child who was acting so prematurely mature, Shen Sheng sighed wistfully. She stepped forward and patted the child’s large head. “Tomorrow, come with your mother to the General Manor to play. I’ll prepare candy for you—even numbers.”

Jiang Buyu strode along, her hands clasped behind her back. Upon hearing this, she froze. “You mean you’re inviting me?”

Shen Sheng nodded.

Jiang Buyu then poked a finger at her own head. “Me?”

Shen Sheng was amused by the serious expression on her little face. “Of course, it’s you.”

“Fine. I’ll go.” Jiang Buyu agreed readily.

Shen Sheng didn’t understand why she needed to confirm it multiple times. She just found the girl’s serious, solemn manner endearing and didn’t ask further. She instinctively began to ask about their lives in recent years.

For instance, where their father was.

Jiang Buyu looked at her with surprise. “We don’t have a father. Didn’t you know that?”

“Why not?” Shen Sheng stopped walking and looked down at the stern-faced girl. For some reason, she felt something was a bit off.

She focused on the gray silk ribbons in the girl’s hair. Could it be just because the color changed that she felt something wasn’t right?

Last night’s Jiang Buyan wouldn’t wear such a serious expression. The child before her had features resembling hers, but her mannerisms and expressions were very much like Anu.

“No father means no father.” Jiang Buyu’s small brows were tightly knitted. “We are not ordinary children. Don’t treat us like ordinary people.”

This remark made Shen Sheng laugh. She didn’t know why, but she felt the child in front of her was using seriousness to mask her inner panic. “Then tell me, what kind of people are you?”

“We come from a place called the South River…”

“Is the South River far from here?” Shen Sheng couldn’t help interrupting.

Just what exactly was the South River? Judging by the name, it was simply a river in the south, nothing special.

When others spoke of it, it was like an illusory myth. But seeing this Jiang Buyan before her brought a sense of reality, as if it were right in front of her.

Jiang Buyu sighed, her tone like that of an old person. “You really don’t know anything. The South River is already gone. It was destroyed a thousand years ago.”

A young child, using the most world-weary tone to tell a story from a thousand years ago—no matter how you looked at it, it was bizarre. Shen Sheng focused on her, not finding it odd, and said earnestly, “Gone a thousand years ago? Then how do you exist?”

“We came from a thousand years ago,” Jiang Buyu stated matter-of-factly. “It was all destroyed, uninhabitable. Someone sent us here, a thousand years into the future. You are my…”

“Shen Sheng.” A voice interrupted Jiang Buyu’s words.

The two turned their heads. Anu, wearing a white cloak, was walking towards them.

Anu’s fair face held a smile at the corner of her lips. That smile seemed to carry both mockery and amusement, making Shen Sheng feel utterly uncomfortable all over.

“Thank you for today. Tomorrow, I will prepare a simple banquet. I hope the State Preceptor will grace us with her presence.” Shen Sheng blushed as she spoke. Somehow, when facing Anu, even her tongue became disobedient.

Anu stepped forward, raised her hand to touch Jiang Buyu’s head, and said, “Go back and play.”

Jiang Buyu glanced at Shen Sheng. “Then I’ll come find you tomorrow.”

“Alright.” Shen Sheng’s lips curved up involuntarily.

Jiang Buyu ran off.

Only the two of them were left in the empty space, and suddenly, the distance between them seemed to close again. Shen Sheng watched Jiang Buyu leave and lowered her voice to ask Anu, “Buyan says you come from a thousand years ago.”

“You believe a child’s words? Have you been reading too many ghost story books?” Anu flatly denied it. Shen Sheng, in front of her, didn’t seem easy to fool; her eyes showed suspicion, as if pondering the meaning behind those words.

Anu then said, “Why have you come back? Aren’t you afraid anymore?”

“I’m not afraid. I just don’t agree with the State Preceptor’s methods. When facing problems, one should confront them head-on. Why resort to petty tricks behind the scenes?” Shen Sheng spoke frankly, even more candidly lifting her chin. “We should distance ourselves from villains and draw close to virtuous ministers.”

Anu, upon hearing this, simply rubbed her own poor ears and replied, “Go home and play.”

“Anu, I mean it. The rumors about you outside are very bad. We can change that.”

Shen Sheng’s face was so red it looked like it might drip blood, but her eyes shone brightly as she looked at Anu. “Anu, let’s get married. Is that alright?”

“You don’t mind Jiang Buyan?” Anu’s smile faded, her face becoming a few degrees more serious.

“I don’t mind. I somehow feel that you all have a great story behind you. If possible, I’d like to hear that story.” Shen Sheng sighed lightly. “I no longer command the troops now. My every move is watched, and I might implicate you as well.”

Her once boundless heroic spirit was now crushed completely by suspicion and distrust. All that remained was a desire to live out her remaining years peacefully.

Snow drifted down from the sky. Anu stretched out her hand; a snowflake landed in her palm. Yet, in barely an instant, the snowflake was melted by the warmth of her skin.

“You don’t want to use the troops in your hands to fight for a place for yourself?” Anu closed her eyes. Images of surging waves flooded her mind.

The water of the South River, crystal clear to the bottom, comparable to spirit medicine, yet in the end, it became a dry riverbed.

She took a deep breath, opened her eyes. Inside them was only calm apathy—no light whatsoever.

But Shen Sheng’s eyes were full of light, a light that made one envious.

Shen Sheng looked at Anu. The other woman wore robes of pure white, and her skin was even paler than the snow. Red lips, jet-black hair, features of breathtaking beauty—absolutely gorgeous.

“Striving for personal glory at the cost of thousands of common lives—is it worth it?” Shen Sheng asked Anu in return.

As her words fell, a strange, peculiar look flashed through Anu’s slightly narrowed eyes. Snowflakes landed on her brows and eyes, making her expression seem even more like ice and snow.

“It’s not worth it,” Anu uttered.

Shen Sheng quietly observed her. “Is there something you want to say?”

Anu turned her back, pursed her lips in silence, and lowered her gaze, concealing the emotions in her eyes.

Very quickly, she offered a perfect explanation: “What is there to say? I am already a devil. What use do I have for a conscience?”

“Someone who can say such words can’t truly be considered a devil. I won’t disturb you any longer. I will await your esteemed presence tomorrow.” Shen Sheng’s heart felt lighter again. The rumors outside were false. Anu might seem cold, but she wasn’t someone who killed at the drop of a hat.

After giving herself this perfect reassurance, Shen Sheng continued to admire the beautiful sight. Anu glanced at her lightly. “Go home.”

“See you tomorrow.” Shen Sheng waved at her.

Just as Shen Sheng was turning away, Anu suddenly spoke: “Shen Sheng, would you be willing to die for a stranger?”

“That depends on the situation. On a battlefield, if it meant saving a civilian I don’t know, of course I would. Away from the battlefield, I will take good care of my own life. My aspiration is to wrap my body in horsehide on the battlefield, not to die in some conspiracy or intrigue.” Shen Sheng spoke righteously.

Anu frowned slightly, as if hearing utter nonsense. But when she looked at the other woman, she saw an aura of pure saintliness.

A heart full of great righteousness, noble and sacred.

The snow began falling harder. Anu hurried back into the manor.

Back at the General Manor, Shen Sheng’s shoulders and hair were covered in snow, her whole body wet.

Just as she returned to her room, she was caught by Zhu Fan. “What am I supposed to say to you? A grown person stealing Zhuzhu’s candy—do you have any shame?”

“It’s quite… quite tasty. Are there any more? Give me two more boxes of that candy.” Shen Sheng laughed awkwardly and hurriedly rummaged through her clothes. She felt Anu’s pouch and froze for a moment.

Zhu Fan spotted that pouch and effortlessly snatched it away. “Give this to me. Consider it payment for the candy.”

“No, no, no, Fourth Sister-in-law. This belongs to someone else. I was supposed to return it, but I forgot today. I’ll pay double for the candy. Just give me some more.” Shen Sheng was so anxious she grabbed it back, tucking it preciously into her bosom. Even her ears turned red.

Zhu Fan sensed something was off and asked quietly, “Is this from your heart’s desire?”

“It sort of is, and sort of isn’t. I don’t really know either.” Shen Sheng was bluntly honest. Sort of, because she did like Anu.

Sort of not, because Anu’s identity was mysterious and elusive, like a dense fog that she could never seem to navigate out of.

Zhu Fan let out an “Oh” and looked at her young sister-in-law’s bewildered and confused expression, as if she suddenly understood. This was the look of youthful spring stirring; it was the same expression everyone wore.

Not wanting to pry further, she simply extended her hand for the candy payment.

“Give me some more. It has to be pairs. It’s a gift for someone.” Shen Sheng hurried into the inner chamber to search for her money box, talking as she rummaged. “Fourth Sister-in-law, don’t refuse me.”

“If it’s a gift, I won’t charge you. If it’s for yourself, then you pay. Don’t tell me your sweetheart is like Zhuzhu and needs to be coaxed with milk candy,” Zhu Fan said, watching the shadow moving behind the screen. What kind of man could stir this silly general’s heart?

What grown man eats milk candy?

“No, it’s for her daughters. Catering to their preferences.”

“What?! You’re rushing off to be a stepmother?” Zhu Fan was shocked. She quickly skirted the screen and walked up to Shen Sheng. “What’s going on? How can an unmarried girl be a mother already?”

Shen Sheng was startled by Zhu Fan’s reaction and hurriedly explained, “What stepmother? It’s the State Preceptor’s daughters who like the candy. Don’t overthink it.”

“The State Preceptor, oh, Jiang Buwan.” Zhu Fan patted her own chest, calming herself down from the false alarm. She quickly said, “Then I’ll prepare extra for you.”

“Thank you, Fourth Sister-in-law,” Shen Sheng said gratefully, then added one more instruction: “Make sure it’s an even number.”

“Why does it have to be an even number? Is it to split between two people?” Zhu Fan casually asked. If it wasn’t for two people, then an odd or even number wouldn’t make a difference.

It would all be for one person, anyway. The amount eaten would be the same.

Shen Sheng was stumped by the question. “That’s right. Why does it need to be an even number? Is it a quirk?”

“A quirk for even numbers?” Zhu Fan was amused. “You’ve been so strange since you came back. Alright, just tell me, and I’ll prepare double portions. It’s no big deal. Get some good rest. I’m going back.”

With that casual remark from Zhu Fan, Shen Sheng thought of those two differently colored silk ribbons—one red, one gray.

When the ribbons were red, Jiang Buyan was well-behaved but wouldn’t speak casually.

When they were gray, she acted prematurely mature and was somewhat more talkative.