Grand Madam drew Shi Huai closer into her arms and said coldly, “You’re supposed to be staying at the estate. What are you doing back here?”
Shi Yuanping calmly pulled a small brocade box from his sleeve. Inside lay a flawless white jade pendant.
“It’s Mother’s birthday. How could I not come? This is the birthday gift I prepared for you.”
Grand Madam glanced at the pendant but made no move to take it. Instead, she said to Nanny Zhou, “Take the child back. It’s windy here. Don’t let him catch a chill.”
Nanny Zhou acknowledged her and took Shi Huai from Grand Madam’s arms, turning toward the inner courtyard.
Perched on Nanny Zhou’s shoulder, Shi Huai looked back. Shi Yuanping was still standing where he had been, his gaze following him. The smile at the corners of his lips had never faded.
That smile sent a chill down Shi Huai’s spine. The way his Second Uncle looked at him didn’t seem like the way one looked at a child. It was more like he was looking at an object.
Nanny Zhou hurried along, practically half-running as she carried him back to the warm room. Her face was grim, and she kept muttering, “He’s here. He really came.”
Qinghe was arranging the bedding in the warm room. Seeing Nanny Zhou’s expression, she asked cautiously, “Nanny, what happened?”
Nanny Zhou set Shi Huai down on the bed, then turned and shut the door. Lowering her voice, she said, “Second Master is back. He says he came to wish Grand Madam a happy birthday, but judging from the look in his eyes, does that seem like the reason? He clearly has something else in mind.”
Qinghe’s face went pale. “What should we do?”
“What should we do?” Nanny Zhou glared at her. “With Grand Madam here, what can he possibly do? Just keep a close eye on the Young Master and don’t let any unrelated people near him.”
With that, Nanny Zhou hurried away, presumably to discuss countermeasures with Grand Madam.
Qinghe closed the door, then picked Shi Huai up and held him tightly against her chest. Her hands were trembling. “Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid.”
Leaning against her, Shi Huai’s mind was racing.
Shi Yuanping’s sudden appearance at the birthday banquet was definitely no coincidence.
He had previously written to ask to become Shi Huai’s godfather, only to be rejected by Grand Madam. Since he had now come in person, he must have another plan.
Sure enough, that evening, Nanny Zhou brought back some news.
Second Master Shi Yuanping would be staying at the residence that night. He claimed he wanted to remain at the Marquis’s estate for a few days and keep Grand Madam company.
Grand Madam had not refused. After all, he was her own son, and a mother could hardly be too blunt with him.
However, Nanny Zhou said that Grand Madam had ordered the doors of Shou’an Hall to be locked at night, and no one was to enter or leave without permission.
Qinghe’s expression eased slightly when she heard this, but she was still uneasy.
Shi Huai lay in his little bed, listening to the wind howling outside. His mind was filled with the way Shi Yuanping had looked at him.
Early the next morning, Qinghe was feeding Shi Huai rice porridge when a maid’s voice came from outside the door:
“Second Master is here.”
The spoon fell from Qinghe’s hand with a clatter. Instinctively, she moved in front of Shi Huai to shield him, her voice trembling.
“S-Second Master, the Young Master is having his breakfast. It’s not very convenient…”
“That’s all right. I only came to see him.”
Shi Yuanping’s voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, but to Shi Huai’s ears, it carried an inexplicable chill.
The door opened, and Shi Yuanping walked in alone. He had brought no attendants, only a food box in his hand.
Qinghe stood in front of Shi Huai, nervously twisting the fabric of her clothes.
“Second Master, Grand Madam said the Young Master is frail and mustn’t be exposed to the wind. Perhaps you should come another day…”
Shi Yuanping glanced at Qinghe. His gaze was as still as a stagnant pool, yet it made her retreat half a step without realizing it.
“You’re the little maid who was beaten for his sake?” Shi Yuanping placed the food box on the table. There was a hint of approval in his voice. “You’re a loyal one.”
Qinghe bit her lip, unsure of what to say. But she did not move aside. She continued to stand firmly in front of Shi Huai.
Shi Yuanping did not make things difficult for her. He simply walked around her and came to the little bed, looking down at Shi Huai, who was sitting on it.
Shi Huai tilted his head back and met his cheap Second Uncle’s gaze. He could clearly see the extremely complicated emotions roiling in the other man’s eyes.
There was joy, sorrow, nostalgia, and something else—something almost overflowing with… madness.
“What an ugly little thing.”
Shi Yuanping reached out as if to touch Shi Huai’s face, his voice so soft it sounded like he was speaking to himself.
Qinghe found courage from somewhere and seized Shi Yuanping by the wrist. “Second Master, you mustn’t. The Young Master… he’s afraid of strangers.”
Shi Yuanping paused. He lowered his eyes to look at Qinghe’s hand around his wrist. Instead of getting angry, he smiled.
“What’s your name?”
“Q-Qinghe.”
“Qinghe, do you know who this child is?”
Shi Yuanping’s tone suddenly became serious—so serious that it made the listener’s heart clench.
Qinghe froze. “He… he’s the Marquis’s Young Master.”
“Is that so?”
Shi Yuanping gave a soft chuckle and withdrew his hand. He straightened, but his gaze never left Shi Huai.
“What if I told you he was my son?”
The words were like a stone tossed into a calm lake, sending ripples surging in every direction.
Shi Huai’s mind went blank with a loud buzz. He had suspected as much before, but hearing it from Shi Yuanping’s own mouth was still a tremendous shock.
Qinghe was even more stunned. Her mouth hung open, and for a long moment she could not say a word.
“S-Second Master, please don’t joke like that…” Qinghe’s voice trembled.
“All right, I was only teasing you.”
Shi Yuanping suddenly smiled. He reached out and pinched Shi Huai’s chin, clicking his tongue as he said, “He looks even uglier up close. How could I possibly have a son this ugly?”
His grip was neither hard nor gentle, but the scrutinizing air surrounding him made everyone feel deeply uncomfortable.
Shi Huai stared at him with a pair of eyes as dark and round as black grapes. He neither cried nor fussed, simply meeting his gaze in silence.
“Hm?”
The smile on Shi Yuanping’s face froze for an instant, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
“This child’s eyes…”
Qinghe seized the opportunity to pull Shi Huai back and shelter him in her arms. Her voice was still trembling, but it had grown much more resolute.
“Second Master, if you have nothing else, I’ll take the Young Master to pay his respects to Grand Madam.”
Shi Yuanping withdrew his hand, but his gaze remained fixed on Shi Huai, as though he wanted to uncover something beneath that pockmarked little face.
“Go ahead. I was just going to pay Mother a visit as well. We’ll go together.”
Qinghe bit her lip. She did not dare refuse, so she carried Shi Huai and followed Shi Yuanping outside.
Shi Yuanping walked ahead, his pace unhurried. When they passed the garden, he suddenly stopped and glanced back at Shi Huai in Qinghe’s arms.
“What’s his name?”
Qinghe paused. “To answer Second Master, the Young Master’s name is Shi Huai.”
“Shi Huai…”
