While the Princess Jingning was discussing matters with Shen Heqing, the butler rushed into the front courtyard with a somewhat odd look on his face.
The front courtyard was pitch - black, with only a faint candle flickering at the entrance, indicating that the master of the front courtyard had not yet risen.
The butler subconsciously paused, felt the item in his bosom, gritted his teeth, pushed open the door, and woke up Shen Yunfeng who was still in his dreams. "My lord, my lord, there's news from over there..."
Shen Yunfeng, who had been disturbed, was about to get angry when he heard the butler's words. He quickly got up. "Is it really a letter from over there? Quick, let me have a look."
The butler took out the letter from his bosom and said carefully, "It was delivered last night. As soon as I got the news, I went out of the city to fetch it for you."
Shen Yunfeng held the letter and didn't even listen to what the butler was saying.
The butler was smart. Seeing that Shen Yunfeng was about to open the letter, he quickly grabbed the candle from the entrance.
By the faint candlelight, Shen Yunfeng quickly finished reading the letter. However, compared with his previous excitement, his complexion had worsened a lot.
He paced back and forth in the room. "Divorce, divorce... The matter of divorce can't be delayed any longer!"
Thinking of the urging in the letter, Shen Yunfeng became even more anxious. He gave the butler a few instructions.
The butler was shocked and trembled all over. "My lord, this can't be done!"
"Stop talking nonsense! Since Baozhu fell into the water, the Princess Jingning has been taking care of her like she's afraid to let her out of sight. Can you find a chance?"
"Heqing is not at the academy either. He stays in the mansion all day. Can you take action under Baizhi's nose?"
Shen Yunfeng patted the butler on the shoulder, with a hint of harshness in his eyes. "This is the only way now. Just do it boldly. I'll back you up."
Even so, the butler was still a bit timid, but under Shen Yunfeng's coercion, he could only nod in agreement.
Watching the butler's back as he walked out, Shen Yunfeng suddenly called him back. The butler was delighted, thinking that Shen Yunfeng had changed his mind. However, when he walked up, Shen Yunfeng said, "You spread the news that Baozhu had an accident. He dotes on Baozhu the most. If he knows that she fell into the water, he will surely rush back regardless of anything. Since he has violated the military regulations first, we can also make a big deal out of it."
After the butler left, Shen Yunfeng stroked the letter paper in his hand, reading it over and over again.
It was not until the sky began to turn white that Shen Yunfeng went to the study. He lifted the tile at the innermost part of the study and reluctantly put the letter into the box.
However, when he saw the jade flute inside the box, Shen Yunfeng's complexion changed slightly. He clearly remembered that he had pressed the letter with the jade flute, but now the position of the jade flute had changed.
Shen Yunfeng took out the jade flute. Then, he found that not only the position of the jade flute had changed, but the order of the letter papers in the box had also been messed up.
Originally, the letter papers were arranged in chronological order, but now they were in complete disarray.
Looking at the things in the wooden box, Shen Yunfeng closed his eyes in despair. After all, he couldn't keep it a secret anymore.
Shen Yunfeng quickly guessed that it was Shen Heqing who had touched the wooden box. Everyone in the front courtyard was his confidant. If the Princess Jingning had come to the front courtyard, he would have known.
Shen Danqing couldn't enter the front courtyard, and Shen Baozhu wouldn't go into the study.
Only Shen Heqing could freely enter and exit the study.
When he opened his eyes again, there was only coldness in Shen Yunfeng's eyes. He must never let this matter spread and leave a stain on himself.
...
Early the next morning, after Shen Heqing finished his morning reading, he saw a little girl in a light purple gauze flowing - cloud dress and wearing a silk flower running towards him.
The silk flower looked familiar. It should be the hair accessory from Sujiacun. Although it was not very exquisite, it was elegant in color.
Shen Baozhu happily ran to her elder brother's side and couldn't wait to ask, "Where's Third Brother's letter? Baozhu guesses that he also likes the flower cakes!"
Yesterday, the flower cakes made by Sujiacun were sent over. This time, Shen Baozhu managed to resist. She only ate one, and the rest of the flower cakes were sent to the military camp by the servant.
Every time Shen Haiyan received the food, he would write a letter back to Shen Baozhu.
It might be just a few short sentences or some interesting daily happenings...
Shen Baozhu was extremely looking forward to Third Brother's reply. As soon as it dawned, she couldn't wait to come and check for the letter.
Shen Heqing couldn't help but smile. "Baozhu, you're too impatient. The servant who sent the food hasn't come back yet."
"Ah? Then, elder brother, tell him to hurry up." Shen Baozhu said expectantly.
Her unrealistic request left Shen Heqing helpless. "We have to wait for the servant to come back. How about elder brother taking you to the front hall to wait?"
Shen Baozhu agreed without much thought.
But soon, Shen Baozhu noticed something was wrong. Looking at the writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone in Mingshu's arms, her little face was full of curiosity. "Elder brother, what are these for?"
Shen Heqing played a little trick. "Baozhu will know soon."
After a quarter of an hour.
The four treasures of the study were placed in front of Shen Baozhu. Shen Heqing smiled. "Baozhu, practice calligraphy."
Shen Baozhu's little face drooped, vividly demonstrating her utter boredom.
Shen Heqing encouraged her. "Come on, Baozhu! You can see Haiyan's letter after you finish practicing calligraphy."
[The idiot is really persistent in getting the little cutie to study. Come on, little cutie!]
The Dragon King was just watching the fun, while Lin Yu fully supported Shen Heqing's idea. [Studying is very important. I used to be from the lower district, and I've come this far thanks to knowledge.]
[Baozhu, if you practice calligraphy obediently, I'll give you a gift.]
Hearing about the gift, Shen Baozhu became a bit interested.
The Qingyun True Man also said, [Studying can make you understand the principles, but it should also be done moderately. One mustn't be like Shen Heqing, so obsessed with studying that he ignores those around him.]
[When you finish practicing calligraphy, I'll also give you a little gift.]
Since Lin Yu and the Qingyun True Man were both going to give gifts, the Dragon King didn't want to be left behind. [You're giving one each. I'm going to give two!]
[No, I'm going to give three!]
The other two ignored the Dragon King's childish behavior. Only Shen Baozhu happily counted the gifts. "One from the True Man, one from Brother Lin Yu, and three from the Dragon King. That makes five in total..."
With the motivation, Shen Baozhu practiced calligraphy even more seriously.
Since taking Lin Yu's pills last time, Shen Baozhu's memory had improved greatly. Not only was her ability to recognize characters enhanced, but her calligraphy had also improved a lot.
As she wrote again and again, the characters gradually took shape. However, since Shen Baozhu was still young and didn't have much strength in her wrists, the characters she wrote were limp and completely different from those in the copybook.
Shen Baozhu was a bit distressed. "Elder brother, Baozhu's writing is different from yours."
"Elder brother started recognizing characters and practicing calligraphy at the age of three and started reciting books at four... And at Baozhu's age, I practiced calligraphy for at least an hour every day." Shen Heqing had been diligent and hard - working since childhood, and he had already gone easy on his younger sister.
[He's too hard - working. No wonder the idiot can't see Shen Yunfeng's false affection. Studying all day is already tiring enough. Naturally, he won't think about other things.]
Shen Baozhu also thought that her elder brother was very hard - working. She looked down at the copybook, then poked at her own characters, and comforted herself. "It's not that Baozhu is stupid. It's just that elder brother is too hard - working."
Under Shen Heqing's supervision, Shen Baozhu practiced calligraphy page after page.
It was not until the sun was high in the sky that the servant who had gone to deliver the pastries rushed back.
However, he didn't bring back a letter. "Third Young Master didn't give me a letter this time. He only asked a few questions about the young princess's recent situation."
Shen Heqing had a bad feeling. He looked at Shen Baozhu, and sure enough, the little girl had already thrown the writing brush aside and was puffing with anger, obviously very upset.