Unadorned

The imperial physicians came to examine him and said he had lost his appetite. They prescribed medicine, but he could not even take it.

The renowned physicians of Yan Capital said he was lovesick. The cure could be easy or hard, depending entirely on whether the young lady he had set his heart on was willing to save him.

Wen Qingyu was Wen Hong's only precious darling. At such a critical moment, how could he care about family standing or whether the Shens belonged to the upright faction? He immediately sent a matchmaker to the Shen household to propose marriage.

Yet the matchmaker went three times in succession and was turned away each time.

Wen Hong heard from his granddaughter about what had happened at the Imperial College, so he had no choice but to swallow his pride and ask Princess Zhenning to visit Shen Zhiyao.

Zhao Huiluan could not guarantee that Shen Zhiyao would agree to the marriage.

Wen Hong said, "It doesn't matter whether she marries him or not, as long as she'll come and see Qingyu once."

For this, Rong An granted Zhao Huiluan half a day's leave and allowed her and Zhang Yunchi to return to Yan Capital to visit Shen Zhiyao.

Chapter 33: Unadorned

When Zhao Huiluan arrived at the Shen residence, Great Scholar Shen and Shen Zhiyun had already been waiting at the gate for some time. After they exchanged greetings, Shen Zhiyun took Zhao Huiluan to Shen Zhiyao's chambers. It would have been improper for Zhang Yunchi to enter a woman's private quarters, so he took the opportunity to seek Great Scholar Shen's guidance.

When they reached the inner courtyard, Shen Zhiyun signaled for the maids and matrons to withdraw. Then her smile faded, and she personally led the way.

"Wanwan."

Zhao Huiluan tugged at her sleeve, trying to appease her. "You know everything?"

"I don't know. Which matter are you speaking of, Your Highness?"

Shen Zhiyun turned around and smiled with pursed lips, looking rather unnerving.

Zhao Huiluan gave an awkward chuckle, unsure where to begin.

Shen Zhiyun snorted irritably and lowered her voice. "If something this serious hadn't happened, Grandfather would still be keeping Sister Yao's true identity from me."

"If Sister Yao hadn't told me the truth, I'd never have imagined you two would be so daring. One of you risked her life, while the other worked with her from the outside."

Shen Zhiyun's eyes were full of worry and lingering fear.

"Wanwan, I didn't tell you these things, first because they were confidential. The more people who knew, the greater the danger. Second, your maternal grandfather is advanced in years, and the Shen household rests on your shoulders alone. You already have so many burdens; I didn't want to add to your worries."

"But now, for the sake of your Shen household, there's something you must do quickly."

Shen Zhiyun was about to ask what it was, but they had already reached Shen Zhiyao's chambers.

Zhao Huiluan signaled with her eyes that they would speak later, then raised a hand to part the beaded curtain.

Shen Zhiyao was reclining against the bed, reading. The traces of illness on her face made her delicate features seem even more aloof and unusually cold.

Hearing them, Shen Zhiyao put down her book and looked over.

"Your Highness."

"No need for formalities. Stay where you are."

Zhao Huiluan stopped her from rising to pay her respects and asked, "Should I call you Shen Zhiyao? Or Xie Zhiyao?"

At those words, Shen Zhiyun could not help glancing at Zhao Huiluan.

The two had grown up together and seen many sides of each other.

For instance, Shen Zhiyun presented herself to the world as a respectful, courteous and refined young lady from a scholarly family, but Zhao Huiluan knew she hated being bound by etiquette and rules more than anything, and had seen her mischievous side.

Likewise, the overbearing, willful and unreasonable Princess Zhenning was, in Shen Zhiyun's heart, the sincere, endearing, clever and diligent Zhao Jianjian.

But this was the first time she had seen Zhao Huiluan as she was now, sharp-eyed and unsmiling, with the natural dignity of a princess. She found it novel and was even more pleasantly surprised.

Shen Zhiyao fell silent for a moment, then said, "Please continue to call me Shen Zhiyao, Your Highness."

"Very well. I came today, first, to visit you. Now that I see you're all right, I'm relieved."

"Second..."

Zhao Huiluan's expression grew a little more serious.

"The case you risked your life to investigate must end here. You can't continue looking into it."

"Why?!"

Excitement surged into Shen Zhiyao's usually calm eyes, and even her pale face flushed red.

"Haven't we already identified several court officials involved in the case? As long as, as long as we dig a little deeper, it won't be hard to..."

Shen Zhiyao grew so agitated that she began coughing.

Shen Zhiyun hurriedly poured her a cup of hot tea, helped her lean against her, and gently rubbed her back.

"Is it, is it that the deputy director... no longer dares?"

Shen Zhiyao pressed her lips tightly together, full of unwillingness.

Zhao Huiluan said, "It's not that he doesn't dare. He can't."

"Wen Hong has spent decades building his power, and his followers are everywhere, both at court and beyond. If we can't bring him down in one blow, he'll surely strike back and drag innocent people down with us. I don't want to see Censor Xie's case repeated, and I imagine you feel the same."

At that, Shen Zhiyao's gaze flickered, and her fingers clenched around the bedding.

"Shen Zhiyao, this isn't the best time to bring down the Wen Faction. You must be patient and continue to lie low. Do you understand?"

Shen Zhiyao bit her lip. Her eyes turned red as she held back her tears, but not a single one fell.

Zhao Huiluan waited until she had calmed down a little before bringing up the third purpose of her visit.

When Shen Zhiyao heard that Wen Hong had personally begged Princess Zhenning to come to the Shen residence, all so Shen Zhiyao would save his precious grandson's life, she found it utterly ridiculous.

"Did he ever think of showing mercy when he destroyed my entire Xie family? And now he wants me to be merciful and save Wen Qingyu? Ha!"

Shen Zhiyun frowned as well. "Our Shen household has already rejected him three times. What more does he want? Does he mean to force her into marriage? The Shen family isn't so weak that anyone can bully us!"

Zhao Huiluan said, "If you're unwilling, then don't marry him. You're my classmate at the Imperial College, and I'll help you too!"

"No! I'll marry him!"

Shen Zhiyao stopped leaning against Shen Zhiyun and pushed herself upright.

"Your Highness, please tell Grand Secretary Wen that I, Shen Zhiyao, am willing to marry Wen Qingyu."

"Sister Yao!" Shen Zhiyun urged her anxiously, "This is the most important decision of your life. You mustn't let hatred blind you. Besides, the Wen household is a dragon's pool and a tiger's den for you. If they discover your true identity, wouldn't you be a lamb walking into a tiger's jaws?"

Zhao Huiluan nodded. "Wanwan is right. You must think this through carefully and not act on impulse."

"Bringing down Wen Hong isn't just your heart's desire. It's something I, the deputy director, and all the loyal and upright people of Great Yin will do. There's no need for you to risk your life by using your marriage as a bargaining chip."