Chapter 54

Chapter 54

The kitchen had prepared milk and osmanthus cakes, using osmanthus flowers picked and dried last year.

Only the Xie family's chefs knew how to make this pastry, with the recipe passed down through generations. It could be tailored to suit the different tastes of the Xie family members.

When Shen Yuan took a bite, he first tasted a pronounced sweetness, followed by the fragrance of osmanthus.

The cake was soft and chewy. Paired with fine tea, it felt refreshing and balanced the sweetness.

He can't stand very sweet things, and this osmanthus cake was too sugary for him; it probably had a lot of honey.

After taking a bite, he started eating much more slowly.

Xie Yulin's gaze lingered on Shen Yuan for a moment before he signaled the waiting shadow guard to report the interrogation results.

According to Fan Zhongwu, Shen Anniang had indeed run away.

However, it wasn't an elopement.

The reason behind this outcome was truly hard to imagine.

Back then, Fan Zhongwu's most beloved son, Fan Xuan, was kicked by Ji Ping'an, making him infertile. The physical and psychological trauma left him half-dead, wasting away day after day.

Desperate for a cure, he tried all kinds of medicines recklessly, further damaging his body until he truly became a helpless invalid, sickly and weak.

Fan Xuan had long reached marriageable age. Previously, he loved to play and didn't want to marry and have children. His family indulged him, and Fan Zhongwu hadn't taken a liking to any suitable young women at the time, so it was delayed.

Later, Fan Zhongwu intended for Fan Xuan to become engaged and marry the daughter of an escort agency chief.

Escort agencies traveled far and wide, their members were all martial artists, and they shared some historical connections with the Fan family's ancestors.

If they allied with an escort agency, the Fan family's future business could prosper more easily, allowing them to quickly establish a trade caravan to do business in other countries.

Precisely because this marriage prospect was so excellent, after Fan Xuan's physical problems arose, Fan Zhongwu dared not deceive the escort agency.

He feared creating an enemy.

And because of Ji Ping'an's kick, Fan Xuan needed to marry as soon as possible, no matter what, to prevent outsiders from gossiping about the Fan family.

Once married, even if no children were born for years, outsiders would only blame the wife for being unable to have children.

Thus, Fan Xuan's wife had to be someone easy to control.

Fan Xuan had no other requirements for his wife; she just had to be good-looking.

The Fan family searched for quite a while and heard that the Shen family in Dashu Village had a daughter who was not only beautiful but also exceptionally kind and capable.

They sent someone to secretly take a look at Shen Anniang, and she was indeed lovely.

She appeared gentle and virtuous, and with living relatives, such a person would be easiest to control, unlikely to cause any trouble.

The Fan family was willing to pay silver. Villagers would agree to almost anything if enough money was offered.

Outwardly, it was still a marriage into the Fan family as the young mistress. Only a fool would refuse such a good deal.

As they expected, Shen Anniang soon married into the Fan family.

She entered wearing tattered hemp clothes, having saved the prepared wedding dress at home, hoping her family could sell it for some silver to survive.

Fan Zhongwu was pleased by this. The more Shen Anniang cared about her family, the more reassured he felt.

Shen Anniang's wedding night was chaotic. Fan Xuan had an episode and nearly strangled her to death. Fortunately, Fan Zhongwu had anticipated this. After letting Fan Xuan vent some of his resentment, he intervened at the critical moment, preventing a fatality.

After all, finding another wife would be troublesome.

Shen Anniang learned Fan Xuan's secret. She lived alone in the woodshed, but at least she got meals and wouldn't starve. Winters were cold, but she didn't have to worry about freezing to death.

Life in the Fan family was very difficult, but Shen Anniang took it in stride. No matter what, she could survive here.

If an opportunity arose in the future, she still hoped to return home for a visit.

Shen Anniang had a gentle nature, was beautiful and kind-hearted. After some time, the servants and maids in Fan Xuan's courtyard all grew fond of her.

Shen Anniang often helped them with work, and her sewing skills were excellent. Many servants who couldn't mend clothes would bring food to ask for her help.

The stitches were so fine they were almost invisible. Clothes mended like that would look presentable when worn.

The maids naturally felt close to her, saying she was like a mother figure to them.

Shen Anniang thought that aside from Fan Xuan's occasional episodes where he would humiliate and beat her, she could endure this life by gritting her teeth and ignoring the hardships.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Fan family's eldest son, who was usually elusive, returned.

The Fan family held a family banquet. As Fan Xuan's wife, Shen Anniang also had to attend.

Afraid Shen Anniang's shabby clothes would make them look bad, Fan Xuan had a new set made for her, though it wasn't particularly expensive.

Shen Anniang wore an elegant, plain dress. Her simple, unadorned hairstyle was only decorated with fresh osmanthus flowers a maid had picked for her.

Among the lavishly dressed, bejeweled female relatives, her natural, makeup-free elegance stood out remarkably.

Especially her face—rosy lips, white teeth, naturally dark and fine eyebrows without any embellishment.

Everyone in the Fan family knew Fan Xuan was now a eunuch.

The eldest son, Fan Zhe, and Fan Xuan shared the same mother, but everyone in the Fan family knew the eldest son disliked Fan Xuan, and Fan Xuan felt the same about Fan Zhe.

The two brothers mutually detested each other.

When Fan Zhe learned Fan Xuan had become a eunuch, he happily drank a whole pot of wine.

But today, when he saw Shen Anniang beside Fan Xuan, the smile on Fan Zhe's face froze.

How could a eunuch have a wife several times more beautiful than his own?

No, it should be said, how could a eunuch even have a wife!

Why, when he couldn't even continue the Fan family line, did his parents still dote on him so much, giving him whatever he wanted?

Fan Zhe stared intently at Shen Anniang, a gleam in his eyes.

Shen Anniang never imagined the Fan family's eldest son would court her.

Although not openly, he always used visiting Fan Xuan as an excuse, saying he wanted to meet his sister-in-law.

He sent many gifts, claiming they were for Fan Xuan, but more than half were women's items.

Fan Xuan was well aware that his elder brother coveted his wife, yet he dared not provoke him. The family estate was certain to pass to his brother, and Fan Xuan had no choice but to live under his thumb.

Since he could not take his anger out on Fan Zhe, Fan Xuan turned to tormenting Shen Anniang.

From then on, whenever Fan Zhe sent gifts or visited Fan Xuan’s courtyard, Fan Xuan would brutally beat Shen Anniang.

When he exhausted himself and lacked the strength to continue, he would order his personal servant to take over while he watched from bed.

The courtyard servants and maids were powerless to stop it, able only to secretly slip medicine to Shen Anniang in the woodshed under cover of night.

Everyone knows the saying: “The soft persimmon is easy to squeeze.”

But they forget that even a cornered rabbit will bite.

Shen Anniang finally fought back—smashing a clay pot over Fan Xuan’s head, shoving him, and slamming the back of his head against a table corner.

Fan Xuan quickly stopped breathing.

Fan Zhongwu mentioned that Shen Anniang had left a letter, written using characters she had picked up while living with the Fan family—though no one knew where she had learned them.

Its content was simple: if the Fan family harassed the Shen family, she would expose the Fan family’s secret.

The Fan family was searching for Shen Anniang too—but so far, their efforts had yielded nothing, and no one knew where she had gone.

To the outside world, they could only claim she had eloped. On top of that, the Fan family sent people to destroy her household registration documents.

Normally, such documents could only be voided upon death—but fearing Shen Anniang might flee Qingyun County, the Fans greased some palms to have it done easily.

Without these documents, Shen Anniang could not possibly leave Qingyun County.

The search was thus narrowed down to the county itself.

Shen Yuan listened, his blood boiling with rage. He couldn’t even begin to imagine the hellish life his aunt had endured in the Fan household.

After the shadow guard finished briefing him, Shen Yuan asked, “Do you know what secret about the Fan family my aunt is holding?”

The fact that the Fan family was so terrified meant it was a major secret—and simultaneously implied his aunt was in grave danger.

The shadow guard glanced at Xie Yulin; receiving no objection, he nodded and said, “The Fan family is hiding private soldiers.”

If this came to light, the entire Fan family would be ruined.

Shen Yuan grew even more anxious about his aunt. In that case, those backing the Fans would stop at nothing to find and kill her—to tie up loose ends.

Xie Yulin gently lifted a piece of pastry with his chopsticks, took a small bite, and chewed slowly and deliberately.

As he remained silent, no one else dared speak.

After answering Shen Yuan’s question, the shadow guard fell silent.

Shen Yuan clenched his fist, turned to Xie Yulin, and pleaded, “Fifth Granduncle, could you help me find my aunt?”

Xie Yulin set down the pastry, looked at Shen Yuan’s face, and smiled faintly. “All right.”

Shen Yuan was overjoyed. “Whether or not you find her, I owe you a debt. If there’s ever anything you need from me in the future, I’ll do everything in my power to help.”

Xie Yulin nodded calmly. “Agreed.”

Shen Yuan had been staying at the Xie ancestral home for some time and now needed to return to the teahouse.

As for declining the Scribe position, Xie Yulin had sidestepped the topic entirely—so Shen Yuan still had to report to the government office the next day.

He had also learned about his aunt today. Though she remained missing, at least Xie Yulin had agreed to help locate her.

After a servant escorted Shen Yuan out, the shadow guard standing nearby finally spoke up. “Lord, when should we inform Master Shen that Shen Anniang is in Guihua Village?”

Xie Yulin paused thoughtfully and replied, “Don’t tell him. Let him discover it on his own.”

The shadow guard looked slightly puzzled but nodded and said, “Yes.”

Xie Yulin gazed at Shen Yuan’s empty teacup, his calm black eyes cold and inscrutable.

He wanted to see whether Shen Yuan would remain genuinely grateful and true to his word—even if he received no assistance whatsoever.

Shen Yuan returned to the teahouse wearing his official uniform, drawing everyone’s attention.

Ji Xingwang couldn’t resist reaching out to touch it, exclaiming, “The fabric is truly exceptional! Even finer than the Family Head’s and the young master’s robes!”

Shen Yuan lowered his head for a closer look, rubbing the fabric between his fingertips. It really did feel superior—smoother than the finest linen available on the market.

Shen Yuan had already handed over all teahouse responsibilities. His plan was to work at the government office in the morning and return to the teahouse in the afternoon.

Though everyone was reluctant to see Shen Yuan leave, they understood he was advancing in life—and would still return. Their sadness was present but manageable.

Mostly, they were delighted for him.

Especially Wang Sanhu, who grinned as if *he* had just become an official.

For now, only his younger brothers, Village Head Liu’s family, and Auntie Ping’s family knew Shen Yuan had become a Scribe. He hadn’t told anyone else.

Shen Dong and the others, following Shen Yuan’s instructions, kept their mouths tightly shut—not uttering a single word—and strictly obeyed their elder brother’s orders.

Shen Yuan wasn’t worried about them at all.

He still wished to live an ordinary life in the village. If people knew he’d become an official, he feared things would inevitably change.

The next day, Shen Yuan reported to the government office.

He still gave Wang Sanhu a ride to the county town, planning to change into his official uniform at the teahouse before heading to the office.

Ji Pingan was already waiting at the government office entrance early. When he saw Shen Yuan in his official uniform, his drowsy eyes instantly sharpened.

Shen Yuan’s official uniform was light cyan, making his skin appear fair, his spirit vibrant, and his features even more refined and handsome.

Ji Pingan’s gaze swept over Shen Yuan from head to toe—and the smile beginning to form on his lips instantly vanished.

He frowned at Shen Yuan’s uniform. Coming from a wealthy family, he had seen more than most.

This uniform differed from those worn by other government clerks—it appeared to contain silk.

Silk was as precious as gold; even Magistrate Pang couldn’t afford to wear it. Where had this come from?

“Xiao Yuan, where did you get this official uniform?”

Though neither the court nor noble families explicitly forbade commoners from using silk, any lower-class person actually wearing it would be deemed presumptuous—and punished accordingly.

Ji Pingan cursed inwardly, wondering which heartless scoundrel was trying to sabotage Shen Yuan like this.

Just as he was about to pull Shen Yuan into the room to quickly strip off that potentially fatal official robe, he heard Shen Yuan say cheerfully, "How do I look? Fifth Great-Uncle sent someone to give this to me yesterday. It fits quite well, too—I have no idea when they even measured me."

Ji Pingan paused, his hand halfway to grabbing Shen Yuan. He coughed awkwardly and said, "Oh, I see. Fifth Great-Uncle is really quite thoughtful, then."

Shen Yuan nodded in agreement. "He really is!"

Ji Pingan let out a sigh of relief and led Shen Yuan into the government office. He was just glad he hadn’t blurted out his frustrations earlier.

Walking half a step behind Shen Yuan, Ji Pingan looked at the fabric on the younger man's shoulders. They say the clothes make the man, and it seemed Fifth Great-Uncle was truly setting Xiao Yuan up for success in every way.