Page 17

Li Xinyi watched her with a gentle smile. "How have you been lately? Are you getting along with Xie Jin?"

"Pretty well."

"Really? Then why didn't he come with you on his day off?"

Wow, you even keep track of his days off. That's terrifying.

Shen Lantang knew there was no playing dumb in front of Li Xinyi, so she answered obediently, "Something came up at the barracks. He had to go back first."

"Oh?"

Li Xinyi's lips curved, mischief glinting in her eyes. "Don't give me that innocent look. You'll make people think I'm about to scold you."

Shen Lantang wheedled, "How could you ever scold me, Sister? You're too busy doting on me."

"You're always pretending to be good, but you're full of schemes."

"That's something you say about men."

"It works for clever little girls like you, too."

"Sister-in-law still calls Lan Tang a little girl. Lan Tang is so happy."

"..."

Li Xinyi simply couldn't win against Shen Lantang. The girl looked innocent, but her mind was always working. She was as slippery as an eel.

A while later, Shen Chang'an returned. The moment he came in, he spread his arms wide. "My dear little sister! My precious girl is home!"

Shen Lantang dodged him with a look of disgust. "Stay back. Don't come near me. Have you bathed since you got home?"

"I washed at the yamen! Just this afternoon!"

"So you haven't washed since you got home? Go take a bath!"

"Do we really need to be so particular with each other? We're siblings!"

Shen Lantang's face went blank. "If you don't bathe, I'll tell Sister-in-law what you did when we were little to trick me out of money for a slingshot."

"Wait here. I'll be right back!"

"..."

Shen Father returned near the end of the afternoon.

Born to a poor family, Shen Father had spent more than ten years studying before passing the imperial examinations. He was no good at cultivating connections. The only reason he had kept a post in Zhaojing instead of being sent to some bitterly cold backwater was that he had found a good teacher. His teacher thought that although he wasn't especially clever, he worked hard and kept his nose clean. He was better than a scheming official, at least, so his teacher had secured him a minor post.

He was naturally delighted to see his daughter home and smiled throughout dinner. Shen Mother had indeed made braised pork and eight-treasure drunken shrimp for Shen Lantang. The "eight treasures" were simply various spices. Though the Jing Dynasty was prosperous, a dish made with so many spices was still a rarity. But Shen Lantang was now a daughter-in-law of the Xie Family. What spice couldn't they afford to use?

Out of affection for his daughter, the usually reserved Shen Father even served her a morsel of food at the table.

"Your mother made this especially for you. It was your favorite when you were little. Try some."

"I know." Shen Lantang put on the air of a spoiled youngest daughter and said proudly, "I asked Mother to make it for me! I want it every time I come home!"

"Mm."

After a while, Shen Father spoke again. "How are things at the Xie Family? It's been almost four months. Do you get along with your mother-in-law and the aunts?"

The men of a husband's family would hardly make trouble for a new bride. It would reflect badly on them if word got out. The hardest people to get along with after marrying into a family were its women.

Before Shen Lantang could speak, Shen Chang'an cut in. "Father, what are you worried about? There's nobody my sister can't handle. If she wants someone to like her, she'll win them over. Right, little sister?"

"Shen Chang'an, shut up! What do you know?"

"I know my sister. And I know how to treat my wife well, don't I, Xinyi?"

Li Xinyi fell silent. "..."

She turned to Shen Father. "He's right, Father. Lan Tang finally got to come home and catch her breath. If you start talking about her husband's family and being dutiful to her mother-in-law, she'll get so tired of hearing it that she won't come back as often."

Li Xinyi was the daughter-in-law they had gone to great lengths to bring into the family, so her words carried weight at home. Since she had spoken, Shen Father could only nod.

"All right, all right. I won't bring it up again."

"Here, Lan Tang, have some of the braised pork your mother made. You too, Xinyi."

"Thank you, Mother."

By the time dinner was over, more than another hour had passed. It was not yet dark. Shen Lantang climbed into her carriage with a few parcels and waved to the people gathered at the gate.

"Father, Mother, I'm heading back. I'll come see you again soon."

"All right, all right."

The carriage left them behind. Darkness fell quickly after sunset, and by the time Shen Lantang reached the Xie Family residence, the sky was completely dark.

Lanterns lit the Xie Family courtyard, and a servant carried another to guide Shen Lantang back to her own quarters. At the entrance, she dismissed the servant. As she stepped into the courtyard, she saw a plump little boy emerge from a side room beneath the pale moonlight. Rubbing his eyes, he toddled into the courtyard on short legs.

Shen Lantang paused. "..."

She looked around. Where on earth was his maid?

Xie Hongwen was still rubbing his eyes and calling, "Nanny? Nanny?"

"Xie Hongwen."

At Shen Lantang's soft call, Xie Hongwen dropped his hand. In the moonlight, she saw his eyes light up.

"Mother!" His young voice rang out, clear and bright.

"Mm. What are you doing out here?"

Xie Hongwen said plaintively, "I need to pee."

"Where's your nanny?"

"Nanny isn't here."

She had probably stepped out to attend to something.

"Come here. Mother will take you to pee."

Shen Lantang had never looked after a child in either of her lives, so she had no idea how to help a little boy pee. She simply led him behind the courtyard rockery and let him water nature.

Shen Lantang waited outside, admiring the beauty of a night sky untouched by industrial pollution. After a while, a sheepish voice came from behind the rockery. "Mother, Hongwen can't put his trousers on."

"No, Hongwen. You're a big boy now. You need to learn to put them on yourself."

The Xie Family had indeed raised Xie Hongwen well. He huffed and struggled with his trousers for a while before finally emerging.

Shen Lantang smiled at his crooked waistband and bunched-up trouser legs. She went over to straighten them and helped him put on his shoes.