The noble girl is beautiful.

After the girls finished preparing, they each led their maids and a group of dozens of people out of the courtyard to enjoy themselves.
Today was the Chinese Valentine’s Festival, and the residence was adorned with colorful lanterns and embroidered ribbons, brilliantly illuminated.
The path lights in the garden were also lit, and young maids were laughing and playing everywhere. A lantern tower was set up in an open space, lighting up one level after another, making the place as bright as day.
Shen Yourong and the others circled the lantern tower and then saw people setting lanterns on the lake, prompting them to rush over.
The candlelit lanterns floated gently on the lake, while a few maids squatted by the shore watching them. Du Juan brought back some lanterns and suggested that Shen Yourong and the others also release some.
Shen Qingyan grabbed one first and hid to write something. Shen Qinghan also took one, hesitating about what to write.
Shen Yourong was fascinated by the intricate lanterns, with bamboo frames covered in oiled paper, painted with gradual shades of lotus petals, a small candle holder in the center, and a red wish paper with auspicious words written on it.
On her paper, it read, “One meeting of gold wind and jade dew surpasses countless mundane encounters.”
Du Juan handed her a pen, and she, after some thought, wrote on the back of the red paper, “Drink and be merry today, for tomorrow’s sorrows will come tomorrow—practice calligraphy less.”
Shen Qinghan and Shen Qingyan finished writing on their lanterns, so they all went to the lake to release them.
Shen Qingyan placed her lantern and pulled Shen Qinghan to look back, “Let’s go up to that tower to see the garden and East Lake from above; it must be beautiful.”
Shen Qinghan looked at her, who nodded, “Let’s go.”
They went up Furong Tower, where maids had already cleaned and set up tables and chairs, with the front and back windows open. The night breeze passed through, making it very cool even without ice.
Shen Yourong leaned by the window, fanning herself and looking down. Shen Qinghan, standing beside her, noticed her fan and said, “Wasn’t that green peony fan sent to the palace?”
Shen Yourong replied, “I liked it so much that I made another one.”
Shen Qinghan laughed, “Don’t try to fool me. I clearly saw the one you sent was stiffly embroidered in green. This one in your hand uses dozens of silk threads, much better than the one you sent.”
She fanned herself, “After finishing this one, I loved it so much that I couldn’t bear to send it, so I hurriedly made another. It might not be as good because of the rush. Don’t tell anyone, or Grandmother will be upset.”
“I understand,” Shen Qinghan said.
Shen Qingyan, seeing someone she recognized, waved. Shen Yourong and Shen Qinghan looked down to see Ji Chengyao and several Shen family boys, including Shen Shuo and Ji Zhuo, at a pavilion on a nearby hillside.
Ji Chengyao’s eyes lit up upon seeing her on the high tower. Shen Qingyan, feeling a bit guilty after noticing Shen Shuo, walked over to Shen Yourong.
Only then did the others notice Shen Yourong. She continued fanning herself, her wide sleeves of sky-blue gauze falling to reveal a fair wrist adorned with jade bangles. Her beauty was unmatched.
She saw the people in the pavilion but ignored them, covering half her face with the fan and chatting with Shen Qinghan and Shen Qingyan.
They laughed and glanced toward the pavilion, making the boys curious about their conversation.
Ji Chengyao suggested they go over to the tower, and everyone agreed. As they approached Furong Tower, Du Juan stopped them.
“The young ladies said they are having fun here and do not want any gentlemen to join.”
Shen Yourong was bold enough to block even the prince and the fourth prince. Ji Zhuo looked up at her, sitting by the window, smiling and fanning herself. He sensed that she was unusually relaxed and a bit unorthodox today.
Shen Qinghan, worried, said, “Elder Sister, will it be alright to just block them?”
“What’s the harm?” She said lazily, “Aren’t we already catering to them enough? It’s the girls’ festival today; do I have to entertain them nicely too?”
“Elder Sister is right,” Shen Qingyan said, biting into a fruit. “Let’s not let them in!”
Shen Qinghan glanced at Shen Qingyan, “Weren’t you playing well with him?”
Though she didn’t name him, both she and Shen Yourong knew who she meant.
Shen Qingyan snorted but said nothing.
Downstairs, the twins from the second branch couldn’t stay still and shouted, “Elder Sister, be kind and let us come up to cool off!”
Shen Qingyan leaned out, “You’re only asking Elder Sister, not me?”
Shen Xi and Shen Ran grinned, “We already saw Third Sister. You look really spirited today!”
She laughed, her gaze sweeping over Ji Chengyao before returning.
After some jokes, Shen Shuo said, “Let’s let the girls have their fun here and head over there.”
Ji Chengyao hesitated but followed Shen Shuo’s cold gaze and started walking.
Shen Yourong watched them, noticing Ji Chengyao and Shen Shuo were always the center of attention. Ji Chengyao was dazzlingly noble, while Shen Shuo was imposing and capable but somewhat distant from the others.
Ji Zhuo, however, was often overlooked, though he remained courteous.
She, still by the window, observed them from a high vantage point.
Suddenly, Shen Shuo looked up, his eyes meeting hers in the night. Startled, she dropped her fan.
Ji Zhuo turned to the sound, seeing the green peony fan he had painted for her on the ground. He moved to pick it up, but Shen Shuo got there first, examining the embroidery before handing it to a maid.
“Remind the young ladies to return early to avoid the night dew,” he said.
After the maid left, Shen Shuo looked at Ji Zhuo, “Shall we?”
He nodded, “Let’s.”
As the group left, Shen Yourong retrieved her fan, and the girls descended from the tower. Shen Qingyan, distracted by thoughts of Ji Chengyao, soon went off alone. Shen Qinghan was called away by her mother, leaving Shen Yourong alone.
She walked to a quiet spot under a grape arbor, where her maid hung a lantern. As she sat on a stone bench, her maids advised her to return soon, but she dismissed them.
Out of the blue, a voice said, “So, this is your brilliant plan.”
Startled, the maids stood as Shen Shuo approached, his expression cold. “You knew about the Fourth Prince’s interest in Qingyan.”
She remained calm, “Yes, I knew.”
“Aren’t you afraid they’ll cause a scandal?”
She adjusted her gown, “I trust Qingyan knows her limits.”
He frowned, disapproving but not opposing, and gave her a pointed reminder, “Yourong, you’re smart, but don’t assume everyone else is foolish.”