As the end of the year approached, there were several heavy snowfalls in the capital city again, but within the Shen family, there was no sign of desolation; instead, it became even more lively.
Cui Qiao directed the servants in the courtyard to hang up a brand-new red lantern in the corridor. It was then that Shen Qingyao realized that the New Year was approaching, and it has been almost three months since she transmigrated into this book.
When Shen Qingyao reflected on her accomplishments over the past three months, she found that apart from causing Lu Zhao’s blackening value to skyrocket from [ 0 ] to [ 12 ], she had achieved nothing else.
She sighed, slumping over the table, feeling like a salted fish that had lost its year-end bonus to someone else.
[Host, what’s wrong?] the system suddenly asked her.
[Are you homesick?] It remembered that humans tend to miss their hometowns especially during the New Year.
Shen Qingyao hesitated for a moment, and thought, Homesick?
Remembering her home before transmigration, a shadow flashed in her eyes. She shook her head and said softly, “No.”
But the system interpreted her response as stubbornness, comforting her, [It’s okay, Host, once the task is completed, you can go home!]
This was the second time the system mentioned going home to her, but Shen Qingyao wasn’t as happy about it as it imagined. She felt quite content being here now. She just lightly shrugged and didn’t say anything more.
At that moment, Cui Qiao, who had finished hanging the lantern, came in, holding two sets of new clothes with a joyful expression on her face.
“Miss! The new clothes Madam ordered from Jinxiu Pavilion arrived a few days ago. These two sets are for you. Come and have a look!” Cui Qiao wore a big smile on her face, proudly saying, “This is the newly arrived Qingyan brocade of this year, there are only a few pieces in the entire capital! It’s said that it was originally ordered by the Duke’s mansion, but later when the Grand Princess knew that our mansion also ordered new clothes, she sent them over, instructing Jinxiu Pavilion to use this brocade to make clothes for you!”
Shen Qingyao was infected by Cui Qiao’s excitement, setting aside the faint gloom in her heart from before, she chuckled, intentionally putting on a surprised expression. She said, “Really? Let me see!”
With that, she regained her carefree demeanor, stretching her neck to see what was held in Cui Qiao’s hands.
The fabric was indeed excellent, worthy of being a rare and precious item produced only once a year. Thinking that this was specially sent to her by Grand Princess Duanhua, Shen Qingyao felt both joyful and somewhat uneasy. She hesitated and asked, “Is it appropriate for me to have this?”
Cui Qiao gave Shen Qingyao a puzzled look, and asked doubtfully, “What’s inappropriate about it? Besides, now that it’s made into clothes, you can’t refuse it, can you?”
Cui Qiao laughed, thinking that Shen Qingyao was just being shy, and persuaded, “A few pieces of fabric mean nothing. When the New Year’s Eve arrives, the palace will send down dishes, and according to the rules, Young Master Lu will send a dish too. That’s a great honor!”
Shen Qingyao was taken aback. Being bestowed with dishes from the palace on New Year’s Eve was a great honor indeed, something only those with royal favor could receive. Despite Father Shen’s high official position as a Grand Secretary, they had only received such an honor once or twice. The Duke’s mansion, on the other hand, received two or three dishes every year. Since Lu Zhao was the only son and had been engaged, it was highly likely that Shen family would receive a dish from them.
After a moment of daze, Shen Qingyao couldn’t help but think that it was better not to expect too much. What if they didn’t really mean it? After all, their engagement was just a plastic contract for mutual benefit. Lu Zhao shouldn’t go to such lengths…
“Miss?” Cui Qiao saw Shen Qingyao lost in thought and couldn’t help but call her.
Shen Qingyao snapped out of it, smiled, and scolded herself for overthinking. She suppressed the faint, indistinct hope in her heart and let Cui Qiao accompany her to try on the clothes.
Days passed quickly as usual. On New Year’s Eve, after several days of snowfall, it miraculously stopped. In Shen Qingyao’s garden, red plum blossoms contrasted with the white snow under the candlelight, the character “福”1 on the window lattice exuded a festive atmosphere. Mother Shen and Shen Qingli was giving away New Year’s goods and snacks to the people who came, making the place bustling with people coming and going.
“Yaoyao, come quickly! This is for you!” Before Shen Qingli had even entered, her voice had already reached Shen Qingyao’s ears from afar.
Shen Qingyao ran to the door while holding up her skirt and saw Shen Qingli waving at her. Shen Qingyao’s face lit up with joy, about to run out, but was stopped by Shen Yushu beside Shen Qingli : “Hey! Don’t run! Why are you calling Yaoyao when she’s not in good health? Yaoyao, we’ll bring it to you!”
With that, Shen Yushu held a small trinket in one hand and held Shen Qingli’s hand with the other, smiling as they approached. Shen Qingyao, panting lightly, stopped in her tracks, breath forming mist around her lips, her cheeks flushed with excitement as she looked at her elder siblings.
As the two approached, Shen Qingli’s face showed a mischievous smile. She picked something out of the pouch in Shen Yushu’s hand and handed it to Shen Qingyao, saying softly, “Here, Yaoyao, this is for you. Be happy in the new year!”
Shen Qingyao glanced down to see a small golden monkey, adorable in appearance. Shen Qingyao liked it at first sight. This year was the Year of the Monkey, so it was quite fitting.
Seeing her pleased, Shen Qingli chuckled, while Shen Yushu beside her pretended to glare, sighing, “Clearly, I found this little trinket for Yaoyao, how did it become your idea again?”
After saying that, he handed over the entire pouch to Shen Qingyao. She found several more monkeys inside, each with different poses, including the one Shen Qingli had given her earlier, totaling sixteen, matching her age.
“Your idea is my idea, isn’t it? What’s the difference between yours and mine?”
Shen Qingli raised her eyebrows teasingly at Shen Yushu. Being fraternal twins, they were born and raised together, even looking quite similar. They never really distinguished between themselves, except for occasional playful banter.
Shen Qingyao held a pile of golden monkeys, looking at each one carefully. She found her elder siblings’ childishness quite rare. She couldn’t help but laugh, and handed the items to Cui Qiao before linking arms with her Elder Sister and tugging on her Elder Brother’s sleeve, sweetly saying, “Thank you, Elder Brother~ Thank you, Elder Sister~”
The three of them entered the house laughing. Shen Qingli blinked mischievously at Shen Qingyao, saying mysteriously, “Yaoyao, wait, I have something else for you tonight! It will definitely be better than this monkey!”
Before Shen Qingli could finish, she was glared at by Shen Yushu again.
Something better? This piqued Shen Qingyao’s curiosity. This was coming from the female lead, after all! She couldn’t help but anticipate.
This was the liveliest New Year Shen Qingyao had experienced in both of her lives. Her smile never left her face, and everyone said she was different this year, much livelier than before. They said it was because her engagement was settled. Well, Third Miss Shen family had her wish fulfilled, making her spirits high with every joyous occasion.
Shen Qingyao felt a bit hollow hearing this. She wondered how this concerned Lu Zhao again. It was the inside that has changed, so of course she would be different?
By nightfall, Shen Qingyao happily accepted the ingots her parents gave her as lucky money, said to ward off evil spirits. Then, Shen Qingli pulled her aside and handed her a brocade box. Opening it, Shen Qingyao found a bracelet inside, half milky white and half blood red, made of sheep-fat blood jade2. Shen Qingyao stared at it blankly, feeling a strange sense of familiarity.
The system in her mind, who was quiet all day, suddenly screamed, [Host!!! Isn’t this that?! The key! Do you remember?! That key!!!]
Shen Qingyao froze. She remembered. In the later part of the original plot, when the villain was at his strongest and the male and female leads were at their weakest, the female lead Shen Qingli unexpectedly saved an old man. As a reward, the old man gave her a half-white, half-red bracelet. At first, the female lead didn’t pay much attention to it, thinking it was just an ordinary ornament, but later she discovered that it was the key to unlocking the treasure vault of the previous dynasty. With this treasure vault, Shen Qingli provided enough military supplies for Xiao Mu, resolving their concerns and leading to the plot’s reversal.
“!!??” Shen Qingyao was equally shocked as the system. Logically, this bracelet shouldn’t appear at this time, and why was it given to her?
Shen Qingyao stuttered, hesitating to accept, “Elder Sister, this is too precious, I can’t accept it.”
Shen Qingli, however, insisted, pushing the box into Shen Qingyao’s hands and earnestly said, “Take it! This bracelet is made of sheep-fat blood jade, I searched for it for a long time! Wearing it will nourish your body the best, it’s perfect for you3!”
Shen Qingyao still wanted to refuse, but Shen Qingli didn’t give her a chance, stuffing a piece of pastry into her mouth, silencing her.
Just as the two sisters were struggling with each other, a servant announced that someone from the Duke’s Mansion had arrived.
The lively room suddenly quieted down. Shen Qingli winked at her, then Father and Mother Shen smiled and looked over. Shen Qingyao finally realized who might have come. She quickly took the pastry out of her mouth, turned to look at the door, unable to believe that Lu Zhao had actually come.
Sure enough, as soon as the servant left, a tall figure lifted the curtain and entered. His attractive eyes immediately found Shen Qingyao’s position, and he smiled at her.
Shen Qingyao was momentarily stunned, staring blankly at Lu Zhao.
Shen Qingli seized the opportunity and quickly said, “You keep this bracelet, alright?” then swiftly slipped behind Mother Shen.
Shen Qingyao opened her mouth, looked at Lu Zhao, then at the box in her hand, unsure which one to deal with first.
Meanwhile, Lu Zhao had finished greeting Father and Mother Shen and told his servants to give the dish sent by the palace. Then, with a smile, he approached Shen Qingyao.
He stood against the candlelight, looking like a halo surrounded him, unbelievably charming. Shen Qingyao was mesmerized, her calm heart suddenly beating rapidly again. She struggled to breathe, unconsciously swallowed saliva, and heard Lu Zhao chuckle, “Are you that greedy?”
“What?” Shen Qingyao was bewildered.
Lu Zhao raised his hand as if to tap her forehead but restrained himself due to the presence of elders. He bent down and whispered, “I’ve seen that dish. It has already cooled down when it was sent from the palace. It looks good but doesn’t taste great. If you want to eat, I’ll take you to the palace later.”
Shen Qingyao regained her senses, not daring to argue that she wasn’t craving food, but just dazzled by his looks.
The system understood her thoughts and laughed loudly.
[Hahaha! Host! You’re craving his body!!!!]
Lu Zhao’s eyes teased, his gaze seeming to see through her thoughts, only talking about food on his lips but his smile deepening.
Shen Qingyao blushed slowly under his gaze, gritted her teeth, and told the system, “Shut up!” She couldn’t think of anything else now except Lu Zhao’s face. She inwardly cursed, “He’s using his good looks to his advantage!”
“Elder Brother Lu Zhao, why… did you come in person?” After hesitating for a while, she could only ask this.
Lu Zhao smiled and whispered softly, “I should’ve come to pay New Year’s greetings anyway. After all…” His voice suddenly lowered, “After all, we’ll be family in the future, won’t we?”
Shen Qingyao remained silent again. She couldn’t respond to this. In terms of shamelessness, she really couldn’t compete with this Best Actor awardee.
Having teased enough, Lu Zhao turned his head to look out the window, and asked inexplicably, “Are you cold?”
Shen Qingyao shook her head. There was underfloor heating in the room, so she wasn’t cold. Lu Zhao looked at her and asked softly, “There will be fireworks later, do you want to see?”
Shen Qingyao was stunned, suddenly remembering that this was her family gathering. She turned to look at her parents, only to see her family, except for her Elder Brother who was glaring at Lu Zhao, nodding with comforting expressions, urging her to go out quickly!
“… ” Suddenly, she felt like she was being sold.
Shen Qingyao tilted her head, feeling incredulous. Just because of a dish, are they selling me???
Lu Zhao laughed and said no more. He took the cloak from Cui Qiao and wrapped it around Shen Qingyao, then pulled her away.
- 福 (fú) means fortune/wealth ↩︎
- I’m not sure, as sheep-fat jade (milky white in color) and blood jade (deep dark red in color) should be two different types of jade, but maybe this is the closest :
↩︎ - In Chinese culture, the colors of jades carry their own meanings. White usually symbolizes purity and peace, while red usually symbolizes good luck, fortune, and vitality. As the bracelet is a mix of white and red, it seems that Shen Qingli basically wished for Shen Qingyao’s safety and well-being by gifting the jade. ↩︎