The spring in the capital is extremely short. In just a few days, all the coolness dissipates, leaving behind only unbearable heat. Even before June arrives, waves of heat have already started sweeping through the city. The noble ladies have all switched to wearing the fashionable light silk and gauze, which look both ethereal and cool. However, Shen Qingyao can only look at those thin fabrics and silently shed tears of envy.
She too wishes to wear gauze like a fairy, but her frail body does not permit her to do so.
All the courtyards in the Duke’s mansion have already been supplied with ice, except for the courtyard where Shen Qingyao and Lu Zhao reside. Nothing has been prepared here, and even when Shen Qingyao goes out to stroll in the garden, she is watched by Lu Zhao, who insists she adds another thin layer of clothing.
Being sick truly means having no rights… Shen Qingyao curses the heat in her heart while outwardly expressing her heartfelt thanks to Elder Brother Lu Zhao. After a while, she feels like she’s developing a split personality.
System : [Host, you do have a split personality…]
One day, when Lu Zhao entered, he brought with him a wave of heat. Yet, he alone, with his lightly flowing robes and a lingering cool fragrance, seemed like a solitary moon in the sky—silent and cold, making one feel no trace of the heat.
Shen Qingyao looked over listlessly, feeling that this human-shaped bright moon was her only means of cooling down. Unable to be near ice, she could only feel a bit cooler when she saw Lu Zhao.
Lu Zhao walked over and naturally touched her flushed face. Feeling its warmth, he glanced at her expression and knew what she was thinking. Lu Zhao chuckled, “Were you obedient today?”
Shen Qingyao turned her head and huffed, not wanting to respond. Ever since she couldn’t resist drinking a bowl of iced mung bean soup the day before yesterday, resulting in an upset stomach all night, Lu Zhao discovered it and banned her from all cold foods. Her body was indeed weak, but Shen Qingyao was truly afraid of the heat. Although she knew Lu Zhao meant well, she couldn’t help but throw a little tantrum.
“Go fetch a bowl of mung bean soup,” Lu Zhao said after looking at her for a moment, finally relenting.
Shen Qingyao’s eyes lit up, and she quickly sat up and shouted, “Add some ice for me!”
Lu Zhao’s gaze swept over, and Shen Qingyao immediately backed down. She had to tell the grinning Cui Qiao, “Then… at least cool it with ice water.” She said pitifully.
“No ice water, just room temperature,” Lu Zhao decided firmly. Cui Qiao dared not argue and went with a smile. Shen Qingyao slumped down again.
“Destroy me, I don’t want to pursue this White Moonlight anymore. Whoever wants him can have him! He said he liked me a few days ago, but now he won’t even give me a bit of ice! I’m so miserable!”
[Host, be rational. Can your body handle ice? Even if he gave it to you, would you dare eat it?]
Shen Qingyao thought about the pain of her cold symptoms flaring up and shuddered, stubbornly saying, “Well, at least I can look at it…”
[…]
Lu Zhao sat down beside her, carefully observing Shen Qingyao’s expression. It seemed the girl was really overheated. He had no choice but to coax her, “It’s not that I don’t want to give you ice. When you get better in the future, let alone iced mung bean soup, I’ll take you to see ice sculptures, how about that?”
What kind of ice sculptures could they see in the middle of summer? Shen Qingyao pouted, lowering her head and feeling dejected, “Can I really get better?”
Lu Zhao’s expression turned serious, “Of course, when we find the divine doctor in the southern border, you’ll surely be cured! Trust me, Yaoyao.”
Shen Qingyao looked at his earnest eyes and felt embarrassed to continue sulking. She sighed, thinking it wouldn’t be so troublesome if he would just let her succeed in her mission and stop increasing his blackening value…
And then her thoughts drifted away, and she suddenly remembered that they were leaving for the south tomorrow. This part was not in the original story; it was a new plotline she had developed. The uncertainty made her a little nervous, as she didn’t know what might happen once they reached the southern border.
The next day, the carriages and horses ready for departure were parked in front of the capital’s city gate. It was still early, but a crowd had already gathered, most of whom had come to see off Lu Zhao, who was heading to Lingnan to take up the position of magistrate.
It was supposed to be a see-off… Shen Qingyao glanced at the beautifully dressed girls around her and frowned. This wasn’t a see-off; it was clearly a fan gathering! She looked again at Lu Zhao, who was talking to Xiao Mu in front of the horse, and wished she could immediately stuff him into the carriage so that no one could see him.
*Pfft.* A light laugh sounded in her ear, pulling Shen Qingyao back from her thoughts. She looked at Shen Qingli, who was smiling meaningfully in front of her.
“What’s so funny, Eldest Sister…” Shen Qingyao mumbled.
Shen Qingli smiled and took Shen Qingyao’s hand. “Alright, alright, I won’t laugh. I just think it’s good to see you like this, Yaoyao! Just like this. I heard that the customs in the southern regions are even more open, and the girls there are more direct in pursuing their love interests. You better keep an eye on him…”
“Eldest Sister!” Shen Qingyao blushed and shouted angrily, “You came to see me off, yet you’re making fun of me!”
Shen Qingli’s smile faded slightly. She reached out to touch Shen Qingyao’s hair, her tone becoming melancholic. “Of course I can’t bear to see you go! Mother was crying about this until last night. If I hadn’t stopped her, she would have come to cry again this morning.”
Shen Qingli looked at her sister, who had already styled her hair like a married woman, and Shen Qingli’s eyes moistened. “But our Yaoyao has grown up. We can’t keep you by our side forever. Fortunately, although I don’t really like Lu Zhao, he treats you well. With him around, we can be a bit more at ease. When you’re away, be careful and don’t get hurt, alright?”
Shen Qingyao’s eyes reddened at Shen Qingli’s words. She suddenly remembered that Shen Qingli’s wedding was next month, but the imperial decree for the departure to the south had already been issued. They had delayed for half a month, which was already a grace due to the Grand Princess, so they couldn’t delay any further.
Shen QIngyao stepped forward to hug Shen Qingli and cried, “I won’t be able to see you get married…”
She was leaving. Her second sister, whom she had never met, was still wandering. With Shen Qingli married, the Shen family house would only have their parents and Shen Yushu left. Shen Qingyao felt even more reluctant and sad.
Shen Qingli gently patted Shen Qingyao’s back. With her sister crying, she couldn’t cry as well, so she smiled and comforted her sister, “It’s alright. It’s already great that I can see you off. As for my wedding, it’s just a ceremony. What’s there to regret?”
Shen Qingyao thought to herself that it wasn’t the same; this was the male and female leads’ wedding!
Shen Qingli continued, “And don’t worry about home. Father is busy at the Ministry of Revenue every day, and with your Eldest Brother at home, nothing will happen. Yaoyao, just go and have fun, and come back when you’ve had enough!”
Shen Qingyao nodded against Shen Qingli’s shoulder and whimpered a few more times before Shen Qingli managed to comfort her into smiling again.
At this moment, Lu Zhao walked over. Shen Qingyao looked at him through her tears, making his heart soften. He walked over and took her hand. Shen Qingli’s gaze lingered on their clasped hands before she smiled and stepped back to join Xiao Mu, who had just walked over.
Shen Yushu came forward, looked at Shen Qingyao for a long moment, then sighed and patted Lu Zhao’s shoulder, solemnly entrusting, “Changfeng, Yaoyao is in your care. Take good care of her.”
Lu Zhao also looked serious. He nodded. “Don’t worry.”
Shen Qingyao turned to look at Lu Zhao, and his earnest expression slowly dispelled her sadness and anxiety about the departure.
“Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister, I’m leaving now.” Shen Qingyao climbed into the carriage, looking back repeatedly. Shen Yushu and Shen Qingli smiled at her.
Shen Yushu waved, “Go ahead, and don’t forget to write to mother often.”
Shen Qingyao earnestly nodded in agreement. At this moment, the leading guard shouted loudly, the horses neighed, and the people outside the carriage stepped back a few paces. The southbound convoy was finally about to depart.
Lu Zhao rode his horse beside the carriage, watching the little girl leaning against the window. It was only after they could no longer see the people seeing them off that she lowered the curtain and went inside, after which it became silent.
Lu Zhao’s eyes flickered. Shen Qingyao, at such a young age, had to leave her hometown and family to follow him. He understood that she must be feeling sad. After thinking for a moment, he summoned a guard and whispered a few instructions before spurring his horse forward.
Inside the carriage, Shen Qingyao wasn’t as sad as Lu Zhao imagined. She stretched out comfortably, lying sprawled on the soft and cozy cushions of the carriage. The feeling of reluctance lasted only a short while.
Shen Qingyao understood in her heart that with the presence of the female lead, the Shen family would have a bright future ahead, and there wouldn’t be any major problems. Therefore, she wasn’t too worried.
Once she overcame that initial sadness, she started looking forward to her future life in the south.
“Hahaha! I’m free! I finally escaped the original plot with my White Moonlight!” Shen Qingyao couldn’t hide her excitement, feeling so happy that she wished she could twirl around with the system. “I’ve distanced myself so much from the original plot! Lu Zhao won’t have any chance to turn into villain now, right?”
Shen Qingyao clenched her fist, feeling confident about this turn of events. As long as they stayed in the southern borderlands until the male lead ascended the throne, the plot would be considered complete. As long as Lu Zhao remained well, her task would be fulfilled, and she would survive.
Shen Qingyao felt completely at ease, sensing that a beautiful future was beckoning to her.
When Lu Zhao entered, he saw Shen Qingyao’s triumphant expression. He paused for a moment, then smiled. Looking at the fresh pastries that the guard had worked hard to procure, he felt they might not be necessary after all. His little girl had already cheered herself up.
“Elder Brother Lu Zhao.” Shen Qingyao quickly sat up properly when she saw him enter, calling out sweetly.
Normally, Lu Zhao would respond with a smile, but now, hearing her call him, he suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable. Remembering the times she had called him “Husband,” he found those calls much more pleasant than “Elder Brother.”
“Elder Brother Lu Zhao?” Shen Qingyao called out again when he didn’t respond, her eyes falling on the food box in his hand. Expectantly, she asked, “Is that for me? I can already smell it! It’s pastries from the Ruyi Pavillion!”
She was surprised and delighted to be able to eat them even after leaving the capital.
Lu Zhao smiled, deciding not to dwell on it. Silently remarking on her keen sense of smell, he handed the food box to her without a word.
Shen Qingyao excitedly opened the box and indeed found the pastries inside. She happily exclaimed and immediately stuffed a piece into her mouth. Watching her eat with such joy, Lu Zhao also felt relieved. He thought that his Yaoyao should always be like this, as bright as the sun, always cheerful and carefree, without any worries.
Reaching out to wipe the crumbs from the corners of her lips, his fingertip lightly brushed her mouth. Shen Qingyao paused, swallowing her bite. Seeing that Lu Zhao was about to smile, she hurriedly grabbed another pastry from the box and stuffed it into his hand, moving his hand away a bit. Shen Qingyao averted her gaze, feeling a little embarrassed to look at him. “Elder Brother Lu Zhao, you try it too! It’s… really delicious…”
Lu Zhao looked at her face, then at the pastry in his hand, almost crushed by her grip. He chuckled, rubbing his fingers together before answering, “Alright.”
Taking a bite of the pastry, Lu Zhao raised his eyebrows. “It really is delicious.”
…Please, stop talking. Shen Qingyao felt like she was about to spontaneously combust.
rokumi’s note : I thought there would be no man sweeter than Duan Ye, but I realized that Lu Zhao might be a strong contender…