Volume One, Chapter 15: Cousin, This Is the Sachet I Embroidered for You

Gu Nanxiao had grown up surrounded by women like her, and he was utterly weary of the undisguised adoration in their eyes.

He believed that affection should be mutual, and he never felt that being surrounded by fluttering admirers was any sign of a man’s charm. To him, such people were merely a source of irritation.

Shen Yujiao addressed him as "Cousin," but Gu Nanxiao did not return the sentiment. His voice was cold and detached as he said, "As a lady of high standing, Miss Shen, how can you wander so freely into a man’s private residence? You would do well to avoid coming here in the future, lest you ruin your reputation."

Hearing such heartless words, Shen Yujiao seemed entirely unfazed. She felt no embarrassment, for in her heart, her cousin had always been aloof, never showing intimacy toward any woman. Moreover, she believed that he still held some measure of patience for her. She had once seen a high-ranking official’s daughter feign a fall to throw herself into his arms, only to be ruthlessly shoved into the lake by him. Since then, no one had dared to approach him so recklessly. While many criticized him for lacking the grace of a gentleman or the tenderness to cherish women, Shen Yujiao viewed these actions as virtues—proof of his integrity and his refusal to dally with others. It was precisely because of his cold nature that she felt she had to be the one to take the initiative.

Seeing that Shen Yujiao had no intention of leaving, Gu Nanxiao simply turned and headed toward the gate. As they brushed past each other, his sleeve was suddenly tugged. Behind him, Shen Yujiao’s shy, trembling voice followed: "Cousin, this is a pouch I embroidered for you. It contains a safety charm from Dazhao Temple. I pray to the Bodhisattva to keep you safe and sound."

Gu Nanxiao glanced back at the pouch cradled in her palms. It was embroidered with a pair of twin lotus flowers. Looking at the fine, dense stitches, one could see how much thought had gone into it. Twin lotuses were traditionally a token from a woman to her lover, signifying a union of hearts. An ordinary gentleman, even if uninterested, might have politely declined to spare her feelings. But to Gu Nanxiao, such displays only added to his annoyance. He yanked his sleeve away and snapped, "Does Miss Shen not understand the meaning of this embroidery? How could you be so reckless as to present such a thing?"

His words were like stripping away her dignity and trampling it into the dirt, leaving her with no shred of grace. Yet, she forced herself to stand, her eyes reddening as she looked at him and pleaded, "Cousin, please do not be angry. It is my fault. If you do not like this pattern, I shall simply embroider another."

***

Seeing her remain so thick-skinned, Gu Nanxiao could not be bothered to utter another word. With Mo Yu in tow, he strode out of the courtyard. Ignoring Shen Yujiao’s calls, he mounted the horse brought by his attendant and rode toward the Jinwu Guard office without once looking back.

By the time a breathless Shen Yujiao reached the gate, she saw only a distant silhouette and a cloud of dust. She stomped her feet in anger, but then, as if struck by a thought, she turned and headed back.

Once Gu Nanxiao was gone, Shen Yujiao’s expression darkened. Accompanied by two maids, she marched toward Gu Nanxiao’s study. The guards at the door immediately stepped forward to block her path: "Miss Shen, please stop. No one is allowed to enter the Master’s study."

Shen Yujiao retorted arrogantly, "I have come here today under the instruction of my grandmother, the Empress Dowager. Do you dare to stop me?" The guards remained unmoved, holding their positions without the slightest intention of yielding. Seeing that even the mention of the Empress Dowager could not force them to relent, she let out a cold huff and had no choice but to head toward the Princess Consort’s Qingfeng Pavilion.

The Princess Consort was in the flower room tending to her plants. Led by a servant, Shen Yujiao shed her haughty demeanor upon seeing her aunt. She walked over with a sweet, obedient expression, linked her arm with the Princess, and called out affectionately, "Aunt."

The Princess Consort set down her shears, took Shen Yujiao’s hand, and smiled as she looked her over. "It has been three years, and you have grown into such a fine young lady. Now that you have come to the capital to stay, the Empress Dowager has already informed me of the matter between you and Xiao’er. It is truly a grievance to let a daughter of the Shen family settle for a secondary position, but the marriage to the Xu girl was decreed by the Emperor."

"However, do not worry. Once you are married, your aunt and Xiao’er will cherish you. We will not let that Xu girl steal your spotlight. Besides, you are much closer to Xiao’er, and since he has always despised that Concubine Xu, he naturally will not care for any girl from the Xu family."

Shen Yujiao nodded obediently and gestured to her maid, who immediately handed a brocade box to a nearby matron. Shen Yujiao offered it like a treasure. "Father recently acquired the finest ginseng. Knowing that your health has never been quite the same since you gave birth to Cousin, he asked me to bring this to you."

At the mention of her brother, the Princess Consort’s smile grew warmer. She pulled Shen Yujiao to sit down and said, "Thank my brother for me when you return, and tell him to take care of his own health as well."

***

As they spoke, servants brought in two cups of tea. After a sip, the Princess Consort asked, "Did you see your cousin just now?"

At the mention of Gu Nanxiao, Shen Yujiao’s face clouded with disappointment. She said, aggrieved, "Aunt, you don’t know—Cousin shamed me in public today. Not only did he refuse the pouch I embroidered, but he even ordered his men to block me from entering his courtyard."

The Princess Consort was not at all surprised by Gu Nanxiao’s reaction; that was exactly the way her son was. If it weren't for this, she and the Empress Dowager wouldn't have had to force him to take in housemaids. She dismissed the concern, saying, "Xiao’er has always been cold by nature and has never been warm toward women. You have known this since you were a child."

Shen Yujiao nodded obediently, then feigned worry. "I thought it was just his nature, but I see he is not like this with his new housemaid. I suspect that the maid has forgotten her place and is seducing him into indulging her. In my opinion, she ought to be disciplined properly."

The Princess Consort did not agree, for she understood her son’s temper. Gu Nanxiao hated it when others touched his things. He had been like that since he was young, and as he grew older, his possessiveness had only become more intense. Above all, he detested being managed by others. The Princess Consort felt that as her son grew up, he had become increasingly distant, and she did not want to cause any friction between mother and son over an insignificant housemaid.

Seeing that the Princess Consort had no intention of dealing with the maid, Shen Yujiao added fuel to the fire: "Aunt, you don’t know—yesterday, when Grandmother the Empress Dowager wanted him to take me into the household, Cousin said that having that housemaid in his room was enough, and he did not wish to take anyone else."

The Princess Consort’s expression shifted instantly. Her face darkened as she asked, "Did Xiao’er truly say that?"