The noble girl is beautiful.

On the Laba Festival, snow fell outside once again. Shen Yourong and Shen Qinghan were in Lady Shen’s room chatting. Shen Qingyan, dressed in a red silk cloak, rushed in, carrying a bunch of freshly bloomed plum blossoms. She greeted Lady Shen first, smiling, “Grandmother, look how beautiful these plum blossoms are!”
The old lady happily exclaimed, “They’re blooming beautifully. Third Miss, you have good taste, and you’ve picked them well.”
She ordered someone to fetch a white glazed plum vase and arranged the flowers in it, placing it on a small table next to the couch.
Shen Qingyan took off her cloak and joined Shen Yourong and others in the small hall. Shen Qinghan asked, “We’ve been waiting for you. Did you bring the playing cards?”
“I did, I did.” Shen Qingyan took out a set of playing cards painted with images of court ladies, all drawn by herself, keeping her busy for a month.
“Be careful not to spill tea on them,” Shen Qinghan reminded her.
Shen Yourong took the cards and said, “I’ve already asked them to remove the tea.”
The three of them sat down to play cards. There were a few copper coins on the table, and Shen Yourong also had two emerald jade rings as stakes.
Shen Qingyan held the cards and asked a maid for tea. When the maid brought it, she took a sip and said, “The tea in Grandmother’s room is really fragrant.”
Shen Yourong cracked open pine nuts and remarked, “Grandmother likes her tea strong; it suits your taste.”
As they conversed, Lady Yang entered with someone, saying, “Gifts from Noble Concubine Shu have arrived.”
Lady Yang and Lady Li followed the old rules and gave gifts this year. Since Shen Huai had returned, they specifically gifted him a pair of white jade paperweights, a set of four stationery items, two Lingzhi white jade belts, and two pairs of gold and silver bares. Each of the young ladies received two pieces of bright red cloud satin, two coral bead necklaces, two pairs of jade rings, and two pairs of gold and silver bares.
Just as they were talking, Shen Qingfeng entered from outside, first paying respects to Lady Shen before saying, “Prince Duan has also sent gifts to the young masters and misses of the mansion for the Festival.”
Shen Yourong paused, looking towards Shen Qingfeng outside. Shen Qinghan asked, “What’s this? Has Prince Duan returned?”
He smiled, “Yes, he just came back and is currently only at the mansion. Father said that since it’s the twelfth month, there’s no need to study anymore, so Prince Duan won’t be coming to our place either.”
Saying that, Lady Shen beckoned to see what Prince Duan had sent. Looking over, all the young ladies received the same items—writing utensils and some illustrated books like “Wonderful Brushstrokes of Shitian” and “Flowers of Zhongshan.”
After Lady Shen finished looking, she said, “This shows Prince Duan’s care for his students. You must all remember he is your Master; do not lightly regard his gifts.”
“Yes.”
Shen Qingfeng distributed the items to the young ladies, Shen Qingyan flipping through the illustrated book and commenting, “These items are interesting.”
Shen Yourong flipped through a flower catalogue, not knowing how much she absorbed, only thinking to herself, “He’s back.”
Shen Qingfeng handled the secular matters and came to the small hall to watch the young ladies play cards. A maid timely brought a chair, and he sat next to Shen Qinghan, observing her cards.
“You should play these two cards first and then play this one,” he suggested.
She shielded her cards from him and said, “I’m playing on my own; don’t teach me.”
He pleaded, “After this round, let’s switch to playing leaf cards and include me.”
“If you want to join, you should bring a gift. It wasn’t in vain that you were allowed to join the table,” Shen Qingyan teased, nudging him.
He thought for a moment and said, “In a few days, when we entertain Prince Duan, the mansion will hire an opera troupe. If you want to see any particular opera, just let me know, and I’ll arrange it for you.”
Shen Qinghan pondered and said, “In the capital, there’s a famous actor named He Xiaofang who performs new and interesting plays. Do you know him?”
Shen Qingfeng hesitated, “Well…”
Shen Yourong glanced at him and said, “Don’t think I don’t know. You and this He Xiaofang are acquainted. A while ago, even elder Brother had him come over.”
Shen Qingfeng chuckled awkwardly, “Although that’s true, he is just an outsider and a lowly actor. How can I bring him before you?”
“We won’t even see him; we’ll just listen to his opera,” Shen Qingyan urged, “You’ve already brought this up; now you can’t refuse us.”
He had no choice but to agree, “Alright, I’ll go invite him.”
As Shen Yourong and her sisters were preparing to leave Lady Shen’s place near sunset, they saw Bai Yan coming to deliver something to Du Juan. She spoke warmly, “Our young master has returned to the mansion. We’re also getting ready to leave. Even if we meet again, it will be after the New Year. We’ve grown close, feeling like sisters. I’ll miss you dearly. Now that we’re leaving, we have some items left, cosmetics, fragrances, and some everyday clothes. Some have been used only once or twice. Please don’t disdain them. There are also some unfinished tasks of mine, a few packets of silk threads, and some tassels, all for you.”
Du Juan felt reluctant as well, saying, “It’s not about disdain; how could I? I’ll miss you, too.”
The two of them chatted for a while, expressing their sentiments, before parting ways.
Returning to her room, Du Juan still felt somewhat melancholic, murmuring, “We’ve spent almost a year together. Now they’re leaving suddenly, and we might not see each other again.”
Shen Yourong was about to remove her makeup and retire for the night when she suggested, “Since that’s the case, you should prepare some gifts to send them off. If they’re not busy, you could also ask the kitchen to prepare a small feast quietly for their farewell.”
Du Juan considered it.
Two days later was the agreed-upon day for entertaining Prince Duan and the Fourth Prince. Organized by Shen Shuo, invitations were sent out to Prince Duan and the Fourth Prince, accompanied by scholars from the mansion’s school.
The venue was set by the lake, with two pavilions facing each other, where one could see the opposite building through open windows. In the middle, there was a waterside pavilion where a stage was erected.
Upon arrival, they discovered that the lake was covered with thick ice, blanketed in snow from the previous night, resembling a crystal world. The young ladies all wore bright red cloud satin cloaks, appearing like snow-covered red plum blossoms, exceptionally dazzling.
Shen Qingyan was the most mischievous, crafting a snowball and aiming it at Shen Yourong. She dodged it, but Shen Qinghan ended up getting hit. Snowflakes scattered everywhere, and the young ladies instantly began playing and frolicking.
Seeing the young ladies playing on the lake, Shen Shuo and Shen Qingfeng came over from the other side. Shen Shuo immediately frowned upon seeing them, scolding, “Come up! We don’t know how thick the ice is. If it collapses and you fall into the lake, it could be fatal!”
Hearing him scold them, the young ladies hurriedly got off the lake and stood in front of him, their faces embarrassed.
Shen Yourong retorted, “The ice is very thick. We saw the maids playing on it before we came.”
“Ice won’t melt? If it’s really an iceberg, once you fall into it, no one can save you!”
Seeing this, Shen Qingfeng said to them, “Sisters, you know you’ve made a mistake. We have important matters today, so let’s focus on the important preparations.”
Shen Shuo reprimanded them a few more times before letting the matter rest.
The girls swiftly ascended the attic stairs, exchanging glances and smiles along the way.
Upstairs, everything was already prepared. The charcoal braziers were warm, incense was burning in the censers, and Mei vases were placed on tall stands, adorned with freshly picked plum blossoms. Shen Yourong arranged for a few to be seated, and immediately someone came up with hot tea and snacks.
The table was set with delicate pastries on crimson glazed plates, emitting steam. Even the tea bowls were covered with red-glazed lids adorned with gold plum patterns, reflecting a snowy elegance, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship.
Shen Yourong looked at the tea bowls and chuckled, “When it comes to sophistication, even I can’t help but admire them.”
“Indeed,” Shen Qingyan picked up a piece of lotus root powder cake, saying, “Elder brother has good taste. Where did he find so many red-glazed bowls? By the way, isn’t this lotus root powder cake made from autumn lotus roots? It’s really fragrant.”
Listening to her, Shen Yourong also picked up a piece and tasted it. With the hot tea, it was indeed refreshingly fragrant.
Suddenly, there was the sound of opera music outside the window. Shen Qinghan pushed open the window, “Is He Xiaofang singing?”
Eating her snack, Shen Yourong said, “He’s probably just warming up the audience. He Xiaofang wouldn’t wait until everyone’s here before starting.”
Shen Qingyan also looked out the window and saw that the Fourth Prince had already arrived in the opposite attic. He was chatting with Shen Shuo and the others. She fell silent, leaning against the window and gazing across.
The Fourth Prince, arriving first from the palace, immediately remarked upon his preference for this place over the palace’s constraints. His eunuch took his fox fur coat while saying, “Your Highness, staying out here for a few days and then returning to the palace makes you uncomfortable. How can this be allowed? There are even more rules to follow in the future.”
Beyond the rules of a prince lay only those of the Crown Prince and the Emperor. Shen Shuo and Shen Qingfeng exchanged a glance but said nothing.
Just then, Prince Duan also arrived. He wore a light-colored robe and draped a snowy white cloak over it, with a jade belt at his waist, simple yet dignified.
Entering the attic, he removed his cloak and hand warmer, revealing a qing-colored bamboo leaf pattern that was exceptionally elegant. Shen Shuo’s gaze was fixed upon it immediately.
While others might not recognize it, he certainly did; it was his younger sister’s embroidery work.
Ji Zhuo didn’t avoid his gaze, openly allowing him to inspect. When Shen Shuo looked at him, he smiled faintly, exuding a dragon’s grace and phoenix’s elegance.
Shen Shuo’s brow furrowed with even more coldness, yet he maintained courtesy on the surface, inviting him and Ji Chengyao to take their seats.
In the waterside pavilion, He Xiaofang finally finished dressing up and appeared on stage. His appearance was extremely handsome, with a blend of masculine and feminine traits, and a tall, slender figure. In the play, he portrayed a young scholar, singing from an old opera piece “Red Mane Fierce Horse.” He played Wang Baochuan with his eyes sharp and his speech cutting, overshadowing other characters like a blooming flower in late winter.
“How exhilarating!” praised Shen Qingyan.
Beside the window, Shen Yourong smiled, supporting her head with her hand, her eyes twinkling as she watched him on stage.
Shen Qingyan and Shen Qinghan praised him differently. Shen Qingyan promptly called for someone and said she wanted to reward He Xiaofang. After a moment’s thought, she took off a gold-inlaid tortoiseshell bracelet from her hand and handed it to a maid.
The maid asked her, “What’s this for?”
“A reward,” She said. “I heard that outside, those noble ladies who like actors would throw their gold and silver jewelry onto the stage. We’re too far from the waterside pavilion, so we can’t throw them over. Otherwise, I would definitely give it a try.”
“Is that true? Do they have such customs?” Shen Qinghan asked, only knowing that people outside would lavish money on actors but never heard of noble ladies doing the same.
Shen Yourong, however, found it interesting and also took off a red-gold ring from her hand. Seeing this, Shen Qinghan also took off a jade bracelet and some money, all of which were handed over to He Xiaofang.
Shortly after the maid left, He Xiaofang on the stage bowed towards the direction of this attic. The girls giggled again, as cheerful as spring flowers in the cold winter.
After sitting for a short while, Du Juan came up. She whispered something to Shen Yourong. Putting down the dried fruits, Shen Yourong said, “I’ve got something going on there, you guys keep going.”
With that, she and Du Juan went downstairs together, and behind the attic, Shen Qingfeng walked over and returned the jewelry to her, saying, “It’s just an actor, and you’re all so afraid of getting involved with him. The rest of you are going to have to take your own.”
“Du Juan took those jewels, and Shen Yourong looked displeased. ‘You all are really boring, no fun at all,’ she said.
He said, ‘You alright? Elder brother is already unhappy. Be careful, or he’ll complain about you when you go back.’
She nodded, and he advised her a couple more times before leaving.
Seeing him gone, Du Juan approached, holding something wrapped in a handkerchief. Opening it, she revealed the golden sachet that Shen Qingyan had asked Shen Yourong to take out for repair earlier. She examined it in her hand and found that the sachet had been neatly repaired, with no trace of ever being damaged.
‘Well done,’ She praised.
As she turned to leave, she came face to face with Ji Zhuo. His gaze swept over the golden sachet indifferently as he remarked, ‘Giving a ring to the young actor while keeping the sachet of the Fourth Prince. In my absence, the eldest miss seems to be having quite a good time.’
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