Chapter 205
**Chapter 203: Elder Brother**
Shen Mieyue squinted his dark eyes, suddenly reaching out to grasp Shen Xiuming's delicate face, his confusion deepening as his eyes widened.
The officials around them were horrified, thinking the two had a grudge, and hurried to intervene.
“General Shen, let’s talk this over!”
“Hey, quickly let go of Shen Tongpan! He’s got such thin arms and legs; he can’t take your beating.”
“What’s going on here?”
“General Shen, loosen your grip! Shen Tongpan isn’t a断袖 (duan xiu, literally "broken sleeve," a term referring to a homosexual man)!”
“No wonder General Shen hasn’t married yet; turns out he has that kind of preference... Oh!”
The commotion around them grew louder, with the envoy from Yueguo watching the spectacle.
Among them was a petite envoy from Yueguo, who smelled faintly of herbs, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes sparkling with excitement as she covered her mouth and giggled, “Oh my, the brave general has fallen for the delicate little Tongpan? This is even more thrilling than a storybook!”
Shen Xiuming, a proper man, was being held by the face by General Shen, and he felt a mix of shame and anger. Sure, you’re a second-rank divine martial general, but you can’t just pull the face of a lowly official like me in public!
The cold river wind blew, and Shen Mieyue’s confusion deepened, his gaze sharp as a knife. “You’re Shen Xiuming? From Shenjia Village in Jiangzhou? You have one elder brother and two elder sisters?”
Shen Xiuming’s face turned crimson from the grip, and he forced himself to respond, “Yes, I am indeed from Shenjia Village. My brother passed away long ago—General, please let go!”
Shen Mieyue released his grip, his dark eyes fixed intently on Shen Xiuming.
After a long pause, he seemed to finally confirm something, his voice trembling as tears welled up in his eyes. “Little brother! You... you’re still alive!”
Shen Xiuming stood frozen, carefully examining the general before him.
Through the dark skin and the fierce scars on his face, this General Shen Mieyue felt strangely familiar.
Shen Xiuming’s head buzzed, disbelief spilling from his lips, “Elder... Brother?”
...
...
At Donghua Mountain, the royal villa.
Spring was in full bloom, with peach blossoms bursting forth in vibrant colors. Shen Wei, dressed in short attire, had run around the courtyard for nearly ten laps before stopping by the stone steps by the water to warm up and stretch.
Thanks to her consistent exercise, Shen Wei’s physical condition had greatly improved; she rarely fell ill and recovered quickly when she did.
Additionally, Shen Wei practiced yoga daily, making her limbs quite flexible. When she returned to the palace, she wouldn’t fear the antics of Li Yuanjing.
That man was fierce; most women couldn’t handle him. Shen Wei’s ability to match him in bed was a skill in itself.
“Master, great news!” Cai Lian burst into the courtyard, beaming with joy.
Shen Wei wiped the sweat from her forehead, casually stepping on a grasshopper that happened to pass by, not overly excited. “Has someone from the Emperor arrived?”
Cai Lian nodded vigorously.
With a bright smile, she exclaimed, “Master, double happiness! Your elder brother has returned!”
Shen Wei was momentarily confused, taking a while to process. “My brother? Which brother?”
“General Shen Mieyue! This news has spread all over Yanjing. General Shen escorted the envoy from Yue to the capital and, passing through Jiangnan, discovered that Shen Tongpan is his long-lost younger brother.”
Shen Wei’s breath caught in her throat.
Vaguely, she recalled that she seemed to have an elder brother named Shen Xiuxing. Shen Xiuxing had gone to the border to serve in the army and had died unexpectedly in the flames of war, leaving no remains.
“Isn’t General Shen called Shen Mieyue?” Shen Wei grasped Cai Lian’s hand.
Cai Lian replied, “Everyone in Yanjing is saying that General Shen despises the Yue bandits, which is why he changed his name to Mieyue; his original name was Xiuxing. The Emperor has learned that you are General Shen’s biological sister and has already sent palace attendants to Donghua Mountain to bring you and the Empress Dowager back to the palace.”
Li Yuanjing was looking for a suitable reason to bring Shen Wei back to the palace.
Who would have thought such a coincidence existed, that Shen Wei was actually the biological sister of Shen Mieyue!
Bringing Shen Wei back would allow the Shen family to reunite, a perfect reason for her return to the palace.
Shen Wei lowered her gaze, deep in thought. “Shen Mieyue...”
During her time at the Wang residence, Shen Wei had often heard Li Yuanjing mention him. Li Yuanjing spoke highly of this General Shen, even attempting to win him over, though unsuccessfully.
Now, by a twist of fate, Shen Mieyue had become the current Emperor’s “big brother-in-law.” There was no need for deliberate courting; they were already family.
After a moment of contemplation, Shen Wei instructed, “Cai Lian, gather people to prepare the luggage for our return to Yanjing.”
As she was about to return to the palace, Shen Wei planned to see the Empress Dowager first. She slowly rose, her calm demeanor fading as she skillfully donned a worried expression.
On this warm spring day, with a gentle breeze blowing through the mountains, the Empress Dowager had retained her childlike spirit after spending time with the children. Today, she was flying kites with her three little grandsons on the peach blossom hill in the backyard.
When Shen Wei arrived, three beautiful kites were already soaring in the sky. The Empress Dowager handed the kite string to an old maid and glanced at Shen Wei. “Come into the pavilion for a cup of tea.”
Shen Wei nodded, her heart heavy with worry.
Not far away, Li Chengtai, who was flying kites, frowned at the sight.
The pavilion built in the mountains had an excellent location. Sitting inside, the gentle breeze wafted through, and the peach blossoms bloomed abundantly across the hills. Granny Qian served hot tea and snacks.
The Empress Dowager took a sip of the Bi Luo Chun tea, her voice gentle. “I’ve already heard the news from the palace. You are indeed Shen Mieyue’s biological sister; the ties of fate in this world are truly remarkable.”
Previously, the Empress Dowager had worried that Shen Wei’s lowly background would lead to her being criticized by the officials upon returning to the palace. But now, with the renowned General Shen backing her, the Shen family was set to soar.
With such a formidable uncle, Chengtai and Chengyou would have a smoother path ahead.
Shen Wei lowered her head, her expression not one of joy. She murmured, “Since ancient times, ministers who have overshadowed their lords have not met with good ends. I fear the Emperor may resent my elder brother and, in turn, dislike me.”
A concubine from a lowly background is easily looked down upon.
A concubine from a high background can provoke the Emperor’s jealousy.
Thinking of the famous generals in history like Bai Qi, Han Xin, and Zhou Yafu, who were all executed due to their overwhelming achievements, none had a good ending.
Today’s Li Yuanjing was no longer the former Prince of Yan; he was an Emperor with the world on his mind. As the Shen family rose, if it aroused the Emperor’s suspicion, her fate would not be a pleasant one.
The Empress Dowager set down her white jade teacup, observing Shen Wei’s feigned sorrowful expression, and said irritably, “Do I not know you? Don’t play the victim in front of me. You, with your cunning mind, think a hundred steps ahead; you’re the most scheming of them all.”
The awkwardness on Shen Wei’s face vanished in an instant.
During the three years at Taihua Mountain, Shen Wei had spent day and night with the Empress Dowager, who had come to understand her character.
The Empress Dowager also appreciated Shen Wei’s intelligence.
Today, if it were any other woman, upon learning that her elder brother was a general, she would have been overjoyed to the point of losing her composure.
But Shen Wei maintained her rationality, considering the drawbacks of “overshadowing the lord,” and proactively sought the Empress Dowager’s protection.
The Empress Dowager believed that only a wise and far-sighted mother could raise intelligent and understanding children. The century-long foundation of the Qing Kingdom could continue smoothly.
Shen Wei revealed a compliant smile. “Mother, please show me a clear path. I do not wish for the Shen family to become a thorn in the Emperor’s side; I just want to live peacefully to a hundred.”
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