The noble girl is beautiful.

At the end of June, Shen Shuo sent word that he was already on his way and would arrive in the capital within ten days at most. He was returning from his maternal grandfather’s home in Jin Ling, and his luggage was being sent ahead by his nursemaid’s son, Bao Ping.
Shen Ying immediately ordered people to clean his Mingyue Tower. They replaced the silk screens and aired out the rugs, keeping the servants incredibly busy. Lady Yang complained a lot in private about this.
One stiflingly hot afternoon, Shen Qinghan couldn’t sleep and went for a stroll in the garden.
When she reached the eastern gate, she saw a dozen rough-handed servant women carrying trunks inside. She asked, “What are these things?”
“Second Miss, these are the items sent back by the eldest young master,” one of the women replied.
“If they are my elder brother’s belongings, why aren’t they being taken to Mingyue Tower?” She asked.
A young lady came over, smiling apologetically, and said, “These are things the eldest young master collected to amuse Madam and the young ladies. These trunks are to be sent to the old lady’s courtyard, and the rest are to go to the eldest young lady’s courtyard.”
Shen Qinghan immediately lost interest and said, “So they’re just gifts from my elder brother to his sisters.”
The young lady wanted to say more, but Shen Qinghan ignored her and turned to leave.
As she walked around the bamboo grove, She saw Shen Qingfeng hurrying by and called out to him, “Brother, where are you going?”
Shen Qingfeng stopped and saw it was Shen Qinghan. He said, “There’s an issue at the shop outside. I’m going to check on it. Sister, it’s very hot; don’t wander around too much and go back soon.”
She frowned and said, “Brother, instead of focusing on studying for the imperial exams, why do you keep running around outside every day?”
Shen Qingfeng stopped and said, “The imperial exams aren’t something that can be accomplished overnight.”
She replied coldly, “Mother is counting on you to bring her honor, yet you spend your days busy with mundane affairs. Even if you manage everything in this household perfectly, how much will actually be in your hands in the future?”
He frowned and said, “What kind of talk is that? If Father hears this, he’ll surely punish you.”
She remained silent, her face cold. He asked, “Has someone bullied you? Or have the servants been disrespectful? Tell me, and I’ll take care of them.”
“What’s the use of saying that? If you ever achieve top honors in the exams, then Mother and I will truly have something to be proud of!” With that, She turned and walked away.
He was puzzled. His servant came up and reminded him, “The eldest young master is coming back soon, and I heard he’s bringing many gifts for the eldest young lady.”
Shen Qingfeng suddenly understood and instructed, “Take several dozen taels of silver from my private savings, buy a set of hair ornaments and some fine fabrics, and give them to the second young lady. Tell her not to be upset, and that I’ll make time to study properly.”
The servant agreed and hurried off to handle it.
After Shen Qinghan had argued with Shen Qingfeng, she felt she had gone too far. In the evening, Shen Qingfeng’s servant brought a set of enameled pearl hair ornaments and four bolts of brocade fabric. She felt even more upset, overwhelmed by regret and shame, and wept over these items by the lamp.
The maidservants, unaware of the details, looked at each other, unsure how to comfort her.
Suddenly, Hua Mei walked in with a smile and said, “Second young lady, are you in?”
Shen Qinghan quickly wiped away her tears, and a maid replied, “Yes, she is.”
Hua Mei walked in and said, “The eldest young master brought back some special products and gifts from the south.
The eldest young lady is inviting the young ladies to pick a few items they like. The third young lady has already gone over, and only the second young lady is left.”
Seeing her red eyes, Hua Mei paused and asked, “Is it convenient for you now, second young lady?”
Shen Qinghan replied, “It’s convenient. Please wait a moment.”
She went behind the screen, put on an indigo blue shawl, and took a fan as she headed to Shen Yourong’s courtyard.
The room was brightly lit, with an array of cosmetics and jewelry displayed on the couch and tables. An open trunk revealed several bolts of fine silk.
Shen Yourong, dressed in a simple wide-sleeved blue silk robe, sat on the couch fanning herself. Without makeup, her natural beauty shone even more under the candlelight.
Shen Qingyan was testing the color of a box of rouge and said, “It’s quite delicate, but the color isn’t very vibrant.”
Shen Yourong called out to her, “Hurry over, or the good stuff will be picked over by the third young lady.”
Shen Qinghan sat down beside them, took the rouge from Shen Qingyan’s hand, and said, “This color isn’t bad. It’s just that your usual makeup is so bright that this seems dull to you.”
Ignoring her, Shen Qingyan spotted a pair of small gold and jade hairpins shaped like lotus leaves. The smooth white jade was set on a gold base, with a small gold toad in the middle, making it look like a toad resting on a lotus leaf—a unique and charming design.
“This one is nice,” She said. “Simple and elegant, not overly extravagant. It suits the second young lady.”
Shen Qinghan, eating fruit, chuckled and said, “I don’t need it. My brother just bought me a set of accessories. I don’t lack jewelry.”
Shen Yourong glanced at her but didn’t say anything. Shen Qingyan smiled and said, “Well, all of you have brothers, and I’m left out, aren’t I?”
Shen Yourong chuckled, “Are you implying that my eldest brother is only mine? Isn’t he also yours and Qinghan’s brother?”
Shen Qinghan chuckled lightly, shook her head, and remained silent, not interested in picking any jewelry.
Unaware of this, Shen Qingyan picked out a golden hairpin adorned with garnets twisted together, resembling a bunch of grapes, unique and adorable.
Shen Yourong decided, and each person received a handful of pearls, four boxes of rouge, a pair of jade bangles, two pairs of bracelets, four cat’s eye rings, and several pieces of trendy fabric from the south.
Shen Qingyan also wore the jewelry she liked, while Shen Qinghan took only what Shen Yourong had decided.
Du Juan and Hua Mei gathered the remaining items. Seeing the handful of pearls next to Shen Yourong, Du Juan asked, “Didn’t you say you were going to give this handful of pearls to the second young lady?”
Shen Yourong opened the box, revealing round and lovely pearls the size of lotus seeds. She casually took a handful and said, “Since she doesn’t appreciate it, why bother? I intended it as a gesture of goodwill.
If she thinks I look down on her, what can I do?”
Hua Mei noticed her indifferent expression and jokingly said, “Well, that’s a saving, isn’t it? I saw you earlier going through your jewelry from your younger days.
There was a pearl necklace, but the pearls on it are no longer in good condition, although the design is still beautiful. Why not use these pearls to make a new necklace?”
Du Juan added, “Or you could make it into a flexible necklace. If you don’t like it later, you can always take it apart.”
The two maids chattered excitedly, and Shen Yourong finally smiled at their suggestion.
After a rain shower, the weather cooled down. Shen Yourong sat in the study during break time while Shen Qingyan and Shen Qinghan chatted.
She, however, continued writing, only completing half a large character before feeling a slight ache in her wrist.
Suddenly, a servant boy in green rushed in and reported to her, “The eldest young master has returned. The Duke commands the young master and young ladies to go and welcome him.”
Shen Qinghan and Shen Qingyan looked at Shen Yourong, who immediately put down her brush and said, “Understood. You go ahead.”
As the servant boy left, She stood up, straightened her clothes, and went behind the screen.
Ji Zhuo saw Shen Yourong enter and asked, “Have you finished writing?”
She paused. “Not yet.”
He looked up at her, and Shen Yourong explained, “My eldest brother has returned, and Father has ordered us to go and greet him.”
He put down his brush and said, “In that case, let’s end the morning class here. You can go.”
She sounded slightly excited. “Thank you, Master.”
As she was about to leave, Ji Zhuo added, “Remember to practice your calligraphy.”
She paused and replied, “Yes.”
Emerging from behind the screen, she relayed Ji Zhuo’s message to the others, and Shen Qinghan and the others immediately began packing up.
Ji Chengyao, puzzled, asked Shen Qingfeng beside him, “What’s going on? Are you all busy?”
Shen Qingfeng replied, “My eldest brother has returned.”
With that, he finished packing up and stood up, bidding farewell to Ji Zhuo before leaving together.
Ji Zhuo tidied the papers on his desk and heard Ji Chengyao say, “I heard that the eldest son of the Shen family, Shen Shuo, is as virtuous as an orchid and as noble as a jade tree.
He passed the imperial examination at the age of eighteen and later served as an official. Wherever he went, the people praised him.”
Ji Zhuo replied, “Indeed, and considering his young age, after reporting his duties in the capital this time, he should be promoted by two ranks, with the prospect of entering the Imperial Censorate.”
Ji Chengyao pondered for a moment and smiled, “Such a remarkable person, there’s hardly another in the entire capital. I must go and see him.”
Ji Zhuo, without looking up, spoke gently, “If you wish to meet him, there’s no harm. But he has just returned today and may want to catch up with his parents and siblings. It might be better to visit him later.”
However, Ji Chengyao insisted, “I should also address the eldest son of the Shen family as my cousin. It’s appropriate to go and see him now.”
With that, he bid farewell to Ji Zhuo and headed towards the front.
Ji Zhuo watched him leave, then glanced at the calligraphy sample from Shen Yourong in his hand.