Chapter 005: Brother

Shen Changle lowered her head to look at the box in her hands. Under the expectant gaze of Shen Ruhan, she opened the box and saw two not very beautiful clay dolls inside. A joyful expression appeared on her face, and she exclaimed, "Second brother, you are so kind to me, bringing me gifts."

Thus, in Shen Changle's heart, her mother left because of her birth. The reason she does not dare to get close to her two older brothers may also lie here, as it is she who took their mother away.

"Well, after I change my clothes, brother, please accompany me to pay respects to grandmother" Shen Changle said earnestly

"Why is it only you, Second Brother, who has come?" Shen Changle glanced outside, clearly a bit disappointed. Shouldn't both brothers have come to see her?

Shen Changle was quite certain that Shen Ruanan had definitely been deceived by someone. After entering the palace, she had encountered quite a few exotic tributes from Western royal families. To be honest, those blonde dolls dressed in oversized skirts were incomparable to the pair of clay dolls before her. She estimated that these clay dolls probably came from Jiangnan.

"Elder Brother, you are truly kind to me," Shen Changle said emotionally

At present, they are all still young, so their monthly allowances are not substantial. As the legitimate daughter, Shen Changle receives five taels of silver each month, while it is said that her two older brothers receive six taels each month. This means that Shen Ru'an actually spent one-third of his monthly allowance to buy these two ugly dolls. Shen Changle truly felt this bond of sibling affection.

Upon hearing this, Shen Ruan sighed and asked somewhat unhappily, "Is it that you are only unhappy when I come to see you?"

In her previous life, her grandmother actually cared for her very much, after all, she was her first granddaughter. Although there were also two older sisters from the second branch, her second uncle was merely a son of a concubine, so the grandmother's affection for his two daughters was only superficial. Moreover, later on, the second uncle secured an official position away from home, taking his wife and children with him. Thus, under her grandmother's care, she was indeed the eldest granddaughter. Furthermore, later on, the second uncle secured an official position away from home, taking his wife and children with him. Thus, under her grandmother's care, she was indeed the eldest granddaughter.

"Who is it outside?" she asked, and what reached her ears was a tender voice, sounding soft and sweet. Even now, Shen Changle still found herself somewhat unaccustomed to her own voice

Since childhood, she has been protected by her two older brothers, so even though the Lin family looked down on her and Shen Jin often targeted her, she remained completely unfazed. Later, after she became a widow, it was her second brother who personally came to bring her back. Both he and her eldest brother treated her well, very well.

Shen Changle looked at Aunt Shun's satisfied expression and felt a bit embarrassed in her heart

My mother has always had poor health. When she was pregnant with me, even the doctor mentioned that this pregnancy might be difficult. However, she never considered giving up on herself, nor has she ever regretted bringing me into this world

She once thought that all of this was merely a dream, but now even she has to admit that there is no dream in this world as real as this; she has truly returned to the past. In recent days, she often sits in front of the mirror, staring at the person within, realizing that she looked like this when she was young.

"It’s not that I don’t want to see you," Shen Ru'an said, shaking her hand repeatedly and quickly adding, "I went to the countryside to visit my grandmother; it was not intentional that I didn’t come to see you."

However, Shen Changle never dared to ask such questions. Since her birth, she had no memory of her mother, and even the bits and pieces of information about her mother were learned from the mouths of those old women.

Ke Shenru looked at her for a long time, gazing at her chubby face, and restrained himself from the impulse to pinch her. Therefore, he expressed with great joy: "Chang Le, rest assured, you haven't lost any weight at all."

The aunt beside her was taken aback at first, then smiled kindly. She said with great emotion, "Our third young lady is truly clever, knowing that the old lady cares for you and also understands how to show filial piety to her"

Just don't be a fool next time. Shen Changle thought very sincerely, but seeing Shen Ru'an's expression, she decided to keep the truth to herself. After all, it's just two taels of silver, which is merely a drop in the bucket for the Wei Guogong Mansion.

Shen Changle silently resolved in her heart that in this life, she would live a harmonious and beautiful existence, no longer spending one pale day after another in the desolate courtyard. However, as she thought of this, a figure of a person emerged in her mind.

"Chang Le, are you sick?" Six-year-old Shen Ru'an quickly ran to her bedside, looking up at her with a worried expression.

Nevertheless, this is at least Shen Ruhan's intention, and she is still quite satisfied

It was the voice of the second elder brother. The second elder brother, she suddenly stood up, reached out to pull aside the curtain in front of her, and looked at the little boy standing outside, dressed in a bamboo green brocade robe. She noticed that he wore a gold-inlaid jade necklace around his neck, and beneath the necklace was a milky white jade pendant.

Moreover, with her status as the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Wei, she need not worry about marrying into a good family. In this life, as long as she avoids the two ill-fated individuals from her previous life, she will certainly not fall into the reputation of being a husband-killer again

Of course, it was Grandfather who went outside the city to pick us up. Just now, Madam was waiting at the door. I didn't see you, so I came over to look for you

It was not until she returned from her widowhood and mentioned her mother to her grandmother that she realized everything was not as she had thought

It seems that she is truly foolish. No matter how many rules there are, the bond of blood relations cannot be changed. Moreover, Shen Jin often meets with Shen Ru Yan, and Lin consistently praises their deep sibling affection in front of their father

Little did they know, Shen Ruhan, feeling quite pleased, extended two fingers and said, "I bought this for two taels of silver."

So when he spoke in this tone, even Shen Changle was taken aback. However, she was no longer a three-year-old child; she immediately cupped her face and, with a pitiful expression, said: "Second Brother, do you think I've lost weight?"

Looking back now, her previous indifference towards her grandmother was nothing short of unfilial.

"Second Brother." She looked at Shen Ruhan in front of her, feeling both like laughing and crying.

Seeing that they had been talking for such a long time without any intention of stopping, Shun Gu smiled and said, "Shall I assist the young lady in changing her clothes? The second young master can have some snacks outside and wait for a moment."

However, she had not thought it through yet when Shen Ruhan stuffed the brocade box he had brought into her arms, and she heard him say somewhat proudly: "Chang Le, it is truly a pity that you did not go this time. Although the journey was quite dull, the fair in Yongnian County was very interesting. I even bought you two clay dolls at the fair."

Shen Ruan'an, seeing that his younger sister truly liked it, displayed a satisfied expression on his face. He pointed to the clay doll and remarked, "This is an imported item, a Western novelty."

Shen Changle was taken aback; it turned out that today was the day his grandmother returned. Perhaps his father, feeling sorry for her, did not want her to stand outside in such hot weather, especially since she had just recovered from her illness. He guessed that everyone must be in his grandmother's courtyard now, and only his second brother, taking advantage of his young age, had run off to his own courtyard, disregarding the rules.

Shen Ruanan came over to find her sister as soon as she returned. At this moment, Shen Changle suddenly remembered to ask: "Has grandmother returned as well?"

Thus, after three or four days, she had more or less fully accepted this reality. She pondered whether she had perhaps died from an arrow wound at that time, which is why she had returned to her past. Or perhaps the past was merely a dream

Once, Shen Changle only knew to strictly adhere to the rules; let alone being spoiled by her father, she rarely even acted coy with her two older brothers. Moreover, as they grew older, siblings would inevitably be separated. She had only seen her second brother a few times before the Lin family subtly reprimanded her several times. Furthermore, she felt deeply ashamed and indignant because of her own words, which led to an increasing estrangement from her two brothers.

Therefore, in her new life, she must not experience the same fate as in her previous life, and she will no longer allow her family to be hurt because of her own matters

In fact, Shen Changle intended to convey that, look at how much I have lost weight from being ill this time, so you should not hold me to the same standards.

"Aunt Shun, please help me change my clothes quickly," Shen Changle said, somewhat anxiously.

Later, Xu Momo mentioned in front of her that her mother had a difficult labor and passed away early because she had suffered under her grandmother during pregnancy. Initially, she was hesitant to believe this, but later, when her grandmother arranged for her father to have two concubines, it caused Lin Shi great distress, yet she did not dare to voice her opposition. Observing how formidable Lin Shi was, yet still having to serve cautiously under her grandmother, she naturally came to believe Xu Momo's words. Thus, she often harbored resentment towards her grandmother, thinking that if her grandmother had been more lenient towards her daughter-in-law, her mother would not have passed away so early.

She looked at Shen Ruhan's innocent smile and truly could not tell whether her second brother was speaking sincerely or just teasing her

In fact, Shen Changle also knew that the reason her two elder brothers had not come was that they were not at home. Even her grandmother, who was said to be at home, was extremely fond of her. After her grandmother became a widow, she feared that the servants in the house would be disrespectful to her, so she would reward her with gifts every few days.

She then shook her head; he is the sovereign of the Nine-Five, and having ascended to the throne through such fierce means, he ultimately is not her true love

She let out a hum, and the maid standing outside the curtain immediately asked softly, "Third Miss, are you awake?"

Shen Changle: "... ..."

So she nodded, her little head bobbing like a chick pecking at grains, and pitifully said: "Second Brother, I am ill, why haven't you come to see me?"

Shen Changle glanced at him and was immediately taken aback; she had actually forgotten that her second brother had such a temperament when he was young. However, after her second brother grew up, that temperament was simply...

"Second Young Master, please wait a moment; Third Young Lady is still not awake." In a daze, Shen Changle heard someone speaking outside.

Thus, the siblings joyfully discussed Shen Ruan's recent journey to her hometown

Looking back at certain things, one can only feel that one's past self was truly foolish and naive

"Long Happiness." A tender boy's voice could be heard from outside the curtain.

Such doubts gradually became a scar in her heart. Although, with the passage of time, the scar seemed to fade away, she knew that it had never truly healed

Seeing her so anxious, Shen Ruanan thought she wanted to play with him, so he smiled and reassured her: "Chang Le, don't worry, I will wait for you outside"

Everything has changed so drastically that she herself is unsure of what is real and what is merely a dream