Chapter 594: Chapter 594: Soft-hearted

TAP TAP TAP.

Xiao Wu came running in, her steps light and cheerful. Her adorable, fair little face was flushed from the cold, and crystalline snowflakes clung to her eyelashes.

Ye Chutang’s thoughts were drawn from the letter. As she looked up, Little Point threw herself into her arms.

Ye Chutang looked her over, pinching the tip of her red nose before glancing down at Xiao Wu’s boots, which were caked with snow. "Looks like you had a good time," she said. "You’re covered in snow. Aren’t you afraid of catching a cold?"

Of course, Xiao Wu wasn’t cold.

For one, she was wearing the new winter clothes her older sister had specially ordered for her, which had a thick, plush lining and were both warm and beautiful. For another, she had been bustling about for ages without a single break. She had nearly worked up a sweat, so how could she possibly be cold?

She wrinkled her little nose and beamed, cupping Ye Chutang’s hands in her own.

’I’m not cold! I can even warm your hands!’

In the midst of her movement, the letter fluttered to the ground.

Xiao Wu glanced down and vaguely made out words like "iron mine," but before she could get a clear look, Ye Chutang bent down, picked up the paper, folded it, and set it aside.

Xiao Wu blinked.

She recognized the handwriting, of course, but didn’t think much of it.

Ever since Su Pei’er had gone to Shiluan City, they hadn’t heard from her as often. Sometimes, a month or more would go by without a single letter.

’But it’s the New Year, so it’s perfectly normal for her to write and send greetings to her sister!’

Her sister often received letters from all over, and she burned every single one after reading them. This one would likely be no different. Xiao Wu was long used to this, so she quickly put it out of her mind.

She cradled Ye Chutang’s hands, leaning trustingly against her. Grinning, she looked up and gestured for Ye Chutang to look outside.

’Look, Sis! Isn’t the snowman I built adorable?’

Ye Chutang followed her gaze and saw a snowman standing in the courtyard. It was a little smaller than Xiao Wu.

Ye Chutang laughed. "Well now, isn’t that just a smaller version of Xiao Wu? It’s so lifelike!"

Xiao Wu: ?

’Since when was she that round?’

Xiao Wu looked down in disbelief, motioning at her own waist. She wanted to argue the point, but to her dismay, she realized that after the New Year celebrations, she really had... gotten a bit rounder...

Her indignant fire was instantly extinguished. Xiao Wu’s eyes darted about in embarrassment.

’Oh, whatever! The snowman isn’t that interesting to look at anyway! Especially since Fourth Brother isn’t here. The fact that I managed to build it this well by myself is already pretty impressive!’

’Speaking of which, she really missed the days when Fourth Brother would secretly shove a snowball down the back of her neck, making her flinch from the icy shock...’

Xiao Wu suddenly remembered something. Her eyes lit up, and she began to gesture with her hands.

Ye Chutang watched for a moment, then understood. "The Lantern Festival? You want to go out and have fun?"

Xiao Wu nodded enthusiastically.

Ye Chutang considered it and thought it was a great idea.

"All right. You were still little when we left the capital, so you never got to properly experience how lively the Lantern Festival is here. This is a rare opportunity, so you should definitely go out and enjoy it."

’Children always love to have fun,’ she thought. ’And Xiao Wu is always trailing after me. She’s either in the Marquis Mansion or in the palace, with no chance to play like other children.’

’The Capital City is bound to be incredibly lively during the Lantern Festival. It’s the perfect chance to take her out.’

Besides, Ye Chutang had a personal motive as well—she felt that Xiao Wu’s condition had been gradually improving. If she could interact more with the outside world and communicate with other people, perhaps she could really start to speak again.

Hearing Ye Chutang agree, Xiao Wu was overjoyed.

’I heard there are lots of fun things over at West River Bridge! And shadow puppet shows! I’ve never seen one in my entire life!’

Ye Chutang was rather surprised. "You even know about that? Who told you?"

Xiao Wu gazed at the ceiling innocently.

’Hmph... I know my way around the Capital City, you know?’

Ye Chutang didn’t press the issue, simply ruffling the little girl’s hair.

"All right, we’ll do as you say. When the Lantern Festival arrives, we’ll ask your third brother to go to West River Bridge with us. And while we’re out, we can buy a few things for your fourth brother and find some time to have them sent to Xia City."

Ye Yunfeng was guarding the border, so it wasn’t easy for him to return. Sending a few things to him, however, was not difficult.

When one was away from home, silver coins and supplies were essential. Although A Feng never mentioned it, Ye Chutang always made sure he was fully provided for.

Xiao Wu nodded vigorously, delighted.

Ye Chutang’s gaze flickered to the letter, her expression pensive.

’I wonder just what kind of "excitement" the Capital City will see... this Lantern Festival?’

...

Dusk was falling by the time Shen Yanchuan emerged from the Imperial Study Room.

Eunuch Li had intended to escort him a little further but was stopped by Shen Yanchuan.

"His Majesty is in poor health and needs someone by his side. You should go back, Eunuch Li."

Eunuch Li stopped in his tracks, looking as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t.

Shen Yanchuan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Is there something else you wish to say, Eunuch Li?"

"I wouldn’t dare."

Eunuch Li quickly waved his hand and sighed. The eunuch, who had served Emperor Muwu for decades, now had the weariness of age etched into his features.

"It’s just that I feel... His Majesty... he is in a difficult position. I hope you can be understanding, Princely Heir. The Second Prince... he was, after all, His Majesty’s most beloved son. Making this decision is not an easy thing for him..."

Shen Yanchuan paused, then suddenly glanced in a certain direction.

Beyond the rows of palace halls, soaring eaves seemed to reach for the last rays of the fading light.

He said,

"His Majesty is wise and will make his own judgment."

Eunuch Li opened his mouth, then closed it, realizing that in the current situation, nothing more could be said. He lowered his head and gave a deep bow.

"Farewell... Princely Heir."

Shen Yanchuan nodded. "Take good care of His Majesty."

With that, he turned and left.

...

It was late at night by the time he returned to the Dingbei Marquis Mansion.

Shen Yanchuan crossed the threshold, casually undoing his greatcloak. "Did anyone visit the mansion today?" he asked.

Yun Cheng shook his head. "No one, my lord."

Shen Yanchuan stopped and turned his head to look at him.

"Not a single one?"

Yun Cheng confirmed, "That’s right. The mood in the capital has been tense lately. And with the news of your visit to the palace today spreading all over the Capital City... no one dared to pay a visit."

A faint, mirthless smile touched Shen Yanchuan’s thin lips.

"They’re certainly well-informed."

"I’m afraid by now all the court officials know that you secretly sent men to investigate Qingzhou some time ago. If you can investigate Qingzhou, you can certainly investigate them. It’s only natural that they’re on edge."

Shen Yanchuan never played by the rules. Even the most seasoned veterans of the court were afraid of running afoul of him.

Therefore, after much consideration, they had decided the most appropriate approach was to keep a respectful distance—neither fawning nor defiant.

As a result, the Dingbei Marquis Mansion had been exceptionally quiet this year.

Not that Shen Yanchuan cared.

He stepped into the room, and a wave of warmth instantly washed away the chill clinging to him.

’I wonder how she’s doing...’

The thought had barely crossed Shen Yanchuan’s mind when Yun Cheng spoke up as if suddenly remembering something.

"Oh, right. Second Young Master Xie left the city today."

Shen Yanchuan’s brow tightened. He turned to look at him.

"What?"

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