Chapter 8: Sweet

The younger one looked about four or five years old, her hair done up in twin buns, red silk ribbons trailing down onto her shoulders. Looking at the ribbons in her hair, then at the ribbons in Anu’s hair, they seemed to be exactly the same.

Shen Sheng stared at the younger girl’s face. Qing Yi spoke first with a note of surprise: “Huh, General, if the Young Madam didn’t return to the capital, why is the little girl back?”

“Young Madam” referred to Shen Sheng’s sisters-in-law, while “little girl” meant the daughter of Shen Sheng’s third elder brother.

Shen Sheng shot her a glare. “Look at her age. She’s four or five years old. My third brother’s daughter was born after his death; she’s only just over two this year.”

“But she looks quite a bit like you,” Qing Yi said, retreating awkwardly. Still finding it strange, she couldn’t help glancing again at the girl beside the State Preceptor.

Shen Sheng looked at the younger girl, puzzled. The young girl was also looking at her, her dark eyes bright and full of confusion.

After exchanging a glance, the younger girl spoke first: “My name is Jiang Buyan. My mother is Jiang Buwan.”

Shen Sheng blurted out, “Is there a surname like ‘Jiang Bu’?”

Jiang Buyan narrowed her eyes, her small face adorably chubby. She shook Anu’s hand, her brows and eyes full of childish innocence. “My surname is Jiang, not ‘Jiang Bu’.”

Shen Sheng was so shocked she couldn’t speak. Did mother and daughter share the same generational name?

Snow began to fall from the sky, landing on Jiang Buyan’s small head. Anu took her hand and walked away, leaving behind the bewildered master and servant.

Qing Yi rubbed her own eyes. “General, were the two people you mentioned today actually them?”

“Yes. Could Jiang Buyan be my brother’s child? Did you notice? She looks like me, and not at all like the State Preceptor, right?” Shen Sheng seized on the key point, thinking of Jiang Buyan’s familiar features. Her eyes were like a clear spring—dark, bright, and luminous.

Master and servant dared not delay and hurried to Chenguang Hall, where the banquet was being held.

The hall was filled with many people. After a three-year absence, many unfamiliar faces had been added. When Shen Sheng entered, many came forward to bow and introduce themselves.

The Shen Family had been garrisoned in Juzhou for years, commanding a full two hundred thousand troops both within and outside the city. Any smart person would come forward to greet them.

Shen Sheng patiently handled the pleasantries. A eunuch led her to her seat, which was just below the State Preceptor’s, directly opposite Chancellor Zhou. The Princess and Prince Consort were on the raised platform above.

The Imperial descendants were seated separately from the ministers, the descendants above the court officials. Princess Anle looked down at Shen Sheng in the lower seat with smug satisfaction.

Meanwhile, Shen Sheng had been observing Jiang Buyan the entire time.

Strangely, Jiang Buyan did not touch the food on the table. She sat upright and proper, looking around at the people to her left, right, front, and back.

Shen Sheng took a winter tangerine, peeled it, and offered it over. “Jiang Buyan, have a tangerine.”

Jiang Buyan twisted her little neck, her eyes darting slyly towards Shen Sheng. She reached out her chubby little hand to take the tangerine, not forgetting to add, “If this is poisoned, my mother will come looking for you.”

Shen Sheng: “…” Had this child been poisoned many times before?

Despite her words, Jiang Buyan contentedly broke off a segment and stuffed it into her mouth, nodding with satisfaction. “Delicious.”

Just then, the Emperor arrived. Everyone rose to bow, but Jiang Buyan didn’t move. Her chubby little fingers slowly and meticulously peeled the white strings from the tangerine segments.

Jiang Buyan was too small; no one paid her any attention.

After everyone sat down, she finally looked towards Shen Sheng and asked, “Are there any more?”

Shen Sheng nodded repeatedly and quickly peeled another one for her, seizing the chance to ask, “Who’s your father?”

A small hand darted out, snatched the tangerine, and pulled back. She smiled brightly at Shen Sheng. “What kind of thing is a ‘father’?”

Shen Sheng: “…” This kid isn’t too bright either. How could she not know what a father is?

After her attempt to get information failed, many people came forward to toast the Emperor. They also made their way to the State Preceptor, their smiles fawning. The State Preceptor was cold-faced, not even offering a drop of wine or a direct glance.

After several people met with a wall of ice, it finally became quiet in front of the State Preceptor. Jiang Buyan wrapped the peeled tangerine in a handkerchief and tucked it into the small pouch at her waist.

Shen Sheng had been watching her the whole time. Seeing her put the tangerine away, her compassion surged. She peeled another one for her and whispered, “Two is enough. Eating too many will upset your stomach.”

Jiang Buyan just gave her a disdainful look and silently accepted the third tangerine.

It was then that Anu finally looked at Shen Sheng. Their eyes met. Shen Sheng’s heart pounded twice, and her face flushed red and hot.

After that single, indifferent glance, Anu withdrew her gaze and looked at the little one beside her. “Eat two and take one back. Your pouch cannot hold two.”

“If mine can’t hold it, A-Niang’s pouch can,” Jiang Buyan said, her eyes smiling as she looked at the fourth tangerine on Shen Sheng’s food table.

Anu sneered, “My pouch is full of poison. Do you want to try it?”

Jiang Buyan was still smiling. “Switch pouches with her then. Her pouch has no poison. General Shen, will you switch?”

This mother and daughter are both so strange… Shen Sheng decisively shifted her body to the side. Resigned, she untied the pouch at her waist, took out its contents, and handed it to Jiang Buyan.

Anu watched coldly as those restless hands untied the sachet at her own waist and passed it to Shen Sheng in exchange.

Then, Jiang Buyan wrapped the peeled tangerines in the handkerchief and stuffed them into Shen Sheng’s pouch.

Finally, that incredibly ugly sachet hung at her own waist.

Shen Sheng offered the fourth tangerine. Jiang Buyan, who had been busy for a long while, finally got to eat her own second tangerine.

Shen Sheng’s gaze sharpened. “Why must you take two back?”

“You just shouldn’t give me a third tangerine to eat,” Jiang Buyan said. Her small face was marked with immense worry. She was troubled too.

Shen Sheng was completely baffled. Just then, someone came to talk to her, and she quickly composed herself to deal with them.

Jiang Buyan sat obediently beside her mother and continued eating her tangerine.

The Emperor sat for a moment longer before leaving in haste, handing the banquet over to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince, aged fifteen, was upright and capable. He personally came to speak with Shen Sheng, mentioning the Battle of Juzhou City and offering words of praise.

The Battle of Juzhou City, where Shen Sheng had led the army in a bloody seven-day battle, had spread the might of the dynasty far and wide.

Many people echoed the praise, raising their cups repeatedly. Shen Sheng accepted every toast without refusal, drinking several cups in a row. In the end, Qing Yi had to carry her out of Chenguang Hall.

After Shen Sheng left, the State Preceptor also prepared to return to her manor. The Crown Prince personally escorted her out of the palace.

As they boarded the carriage, the General Manor’s carriage also just started moving. Shen Sheng, inside the carriage, jumped off and slipped into the State Preceptor Manor’s carriage.

“You’re pretending to be drunk,” Jiang Buyan cried out. Anu quickly covered the girl’s mouth. “No reckless talk. Go to the General Manor’s carriage. Have them send you home first.”

“Fine, I won’t get in your way,” Jiang Buyan said, waving her hand magnanimously like an adult. She nimbly hopped off the carriage and then beckoned to Qing Yi, “You’re taking me home.”

The corner of Qing Yi’s mouth twitched. She scooped up the small girl and put her into the carriage.

Inside the carriage, the two sat in silence.

The carriage wheels slowly rolled over the ground, occasionally emitting a creaking sound, like claps of thunder striking the heart, nerves constantly tightening.

“Anu, who is Jiang Buyan’s father?” Shen Sheng asked directly.

Anu leaned against the carriage wall, her pale hands resting on her lower abdomen. She opened her eyes leisurely. The other woman had drunk quite a bit; the rosy flush on her face hadn’t yet faded.

Shen Sheng hesitated, her originally heroic brows furrowing tightly, her cherry lips slightly parted. Anu leaned forward, drawing close to her face. “You want to ask if her father is your elder brother?”

A faint scent of the vast ocean surged at the tip of Shen Sheng’s nose.

She was so close; her breath brushed against Shen Sheng’s cheek.

It was like facing the sea, the damp air wafting towards her.

Shen Sheng immediately thought of the South River, that mysterious place.

Her heart felt like it was about to leap out. She didn’t retreat. Instead, she held her breath and faced her. “Isn’t it?”

The carriage was dark and quiet. Her mind was a complete mess. So close, moonlight occasionally filtering through, and the other’s expression was indifferent and cold.

Shen Sheng’s face burned red hot. She repeated, “I-isn’t it?”

“Then why don’t you ask your brothers if they betrayed your sisters-in-law?” Anu straightened her back. “Do you want to cause unrest in your generals’ homes?”

In an instant, Shen Sheng immediately understood her meaning. Even her ears began to burn. “Th-then, even if I admit it, it’s useless. We’re both women. How could we have a child?”

Anu did not answer her further. She closed her eyes, quietly listening to the sound of the carriage wheels turning.

By now, the Shen family’s carriage had already reached the entrance of the State Preceptor Manor. Jiang Buyan jumped off the carriage and shook her head at Qing Yi.

As she stepped over the main gate’s threshold, a girl the same size darted over. Identical features, even the exact same hairstyle, except the two red silk ribbons were replaced with gray ones.

“Jiang Buyan.” The girl stood in front of Jiang Buyan.

Jiang Buyan immediately untied the pouch at her waist and handed it over. “Jiang Buyu, she gave us tangerines. Four of them. I ate two and saved two for you. Very fair.”

Jiang Buyu stopped in her tracks, examining the pouch in Jiang Buyan’s hand. She asked suspiciously, “Where’s the other one?”

“With Mother. One pouch could only hold one. Here, for you.” Jiang Buyan narrowed her small eyes, beaming happily. “Let’s go back. I’ll tell you about what happened today. It’s your turn next time.”

Jiang Buyu took the pouch, fished out the peeled tangerine inside, and unhurriedly broke off a piece and put it in her mouth. The tangerine was very sweet.

Sweet, very much so.