189: A touch of crimson enters your eyes

Shen Xingwan returned to her residence in the west wing carrying a tray with an empty bowl, but her footsteps came to a sudden halt in front of the dressing table.

She gently placed the glass lamp on the table, its warm yellow light spreading out in a soft glow.

The mirror reflected her beautiful yet slightly pale face, along with her eyes that were still tinged with red. The Embroiderer's words were like a stone cast into the lake of her heart, stirring up ripples.

“Dress yourself up more beautifully... truly integrate...”

She took a deep breath, as if she had made a certain decision.

She slowly opened the redwood jewelry box, her fingertips brushing over several simple and elegant jade hairpins, but finally stopping at the bottom layer.

Lying quietly there was an Alizarin Red Silk-wrapped Kingfisher Feather Dangling Hairpin. It was an item she had brought from the City Lord's Manor, but because she found it too gaudy and flamboyant, she had never worn it.

Now, with a pinch of her fingers, she picked it up.

She then changed into an aqua-blue narrow-sleeved jacket and skirt set embroidered with silver lotus vines. As the hem of the skirt fell, it accentuated her slender waist and made her skin appear even whiter than snow.

Facing the mirror, she put her hair up in a 'Floating Cloud' bun that she rarely wore, and inserted that madder red dangling hairpin diagonally into her hair near her temple.

The coldness in the eyes of the person in the mirror was softened a bit by the flowing brilliance of the hairpin, adding a touch of charm rarely seen on ordinary days.

She lit a brighter glass palace lantern and took a small jar of newly made Snowy Peak Green Spiritual Tea. Only then did she carry the tray and head toward the study once more.

Her footsteps were much steadier than before. Her skirt brushed against the bluestone slabs of the corridor, making a faint rustling sound that was exceptionally clear in the silent night.

Inside the study, Situ Jun was focused on deducing movements on a map of the Northern Frontier. His brush tip, dipped in cinnabar, drew several heavy circles around several passes between East Lin City and Northern Frontier City.

The candlelight reflected his furrowed brows, and an invisible sense of pressure surrounded him.

On the desk, the potted 'Purple Magnolia,' said to be a rare species from the Southern Frontier, had limp, drooping leaves, clearly having lacked water for a long time.

“Knock, knock.”

The sound of knocking echoed, slightly heavier than Shen Xingwan's usual knock, carrying a trace of imperceptible deliberateness.

“Come in.”

Situ Jun didn't even lift his head, his voice deep and steady.

The door was pushed open, and Shen Xingwan's figure appeared at the entrance.

She didn't enter immediately but first hung the bright glass palace lantern on the bronze hook by the door. The soft, warm light instantly dispelled the shadows in the corner of the entrance.

This subtle movement made Situ Jun instinctively look up.

When his gaze met hers, Situ Jun was slightly stunned.

The halo of the candlelight and the palace lantern intertwined upon her. The aqua-blue dress made her look like a fresh lotus after rain, while the madder red dangling hairpin swayed gently in her black hair, a touch of vivid color perfectly lighting up her cold and elegant face.

She was carrying a new tray. Besides the tea set, there was a small white jade bowl filled with clear water, obviously prepared for that potted Purple Magnolia.

“Manor Lord.”

Shen Xingwan's voice was still clear and melodious, but it lacked the previous sobbing and gained a bit of composure.

Situ Jun's gaze lingered for a moment on the hairpin in her hair, a flash of amazement crossing his eyes before turning into a gentle smile. The tight line of his jaw also softened slightly:

“Xingwan? Why are you back again?”

He naturally noticed that she had changed her clothes and hair ornaments.

Shen Xingwan walked closer with slow steps and placed the tray on an empty corner of the desk.

She didn't answer why she had returned, but simply picked up the white jade bowl, walked to the flower stand by the window, and gently and intently watered the drooping Purple Magnolia.

Clear water droplets rolled down the dark green leaves. The magnolia seemed to regain some spirit, its leaves quietly unfurling.

“Sister Embroiderer said this ‘Purple Magnolia’ likes shade and coolness but shouldn't be allowed to get too dry. Watering it once every morning and evening is just right.”

She explained softly while watering, as if this were the entire reason for her return.

After watering, she picked up the tea set from the tray again.

Her slender white fingers pinched a small pinch of Snowy Peak Green and placed it into a warm purple clay teapot. She lifted the Spirit Spring Water warming on the nearby small stove and poured it in.

Her movements were smooth and fluid, possessing a kind of tranquil beauty.

The crisp fragrance of tea instantly permeated the study, diluting the heaviness of the Dragons Saliva Incense and the scent of ink from the map.

“The Manor Lord is worried and exhausted; please have a cup of clear tea to refresh yourself.”

She gently placed a cup of clear, emerald-green tea by his hand, carefully avoiding the cinnabar markings on the map.

Situ Jun watched her finish all this.

She no longer carried the previous grievances and endurance; instead, with a calm and determined posture, she naturally integrated herself into this study, which symbolized the core of his power and schemes.

She didn't mention the dangers of the Southern Frontier, nor did she ask about the layout of the Northern Frontier. She simply used a cup of tea and a pot of flowers to silently announce her presence and companionship.

Situ Jun picked up the teacup, the warm surface of the cup soothing his palm.

The crisp and sweet tea entered his mouth, carrying a trace of the unique icy aura belonging to Shen Xingwan, instantly washing away the frustration in his heart.

He let out a long breath, and his tense shoulders relaxed.

“Good tea.”

He praised, his gaze falling back onto the map, though his tone was much more relaxed than before:

“Xingwan, I still have a few matters to handle. You should go back and rest early.”

Shen Xingwan did not go to rest as told. She stood there quietly by the side of the desk, like a secluded orchid quietly blooming in the night.

Her aqua-blue dress fluttered gently in the night breeze, outlining her full and moving curves.

She lowered her head slightly, appearing to be focused on the patterns of the bluestone floor tiles. Her profile looked somewhat unrealistically beautiful under the hazy light.

“Xingwan?”

Seeing that she seemed to be spacing out, Situ Jun called her again.

Hearing the call, Shen Xingwan knew she couldn't continue pretending not to hear.

She looked up, her water-like eyes meeting his gaze, before quickly looking down again with a trace of imperceptible nervousness.

“Manor Lord, I...”

She moved with lotus steps, taking two steps forward, her voice softer than the night breeze:

“I want to continue serving you here, Manor Lord.”

Situ Jun put down the secret letter in his hand, his gaze landing on her.

Shen Xingwan's composure from the daytime seemed to have faded slightly in the silence of the late night. That hidden melancholy and a sense of indescribable fragility became even clearer under the dim lamplight.

She was indeed very beautiful, breathtakingly so, but this beauty carried a fragile, complex quality that made one want to investigate further.

“It's so late; there's no need for anyone to serve here. You...”

Before Situ Jun could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by Shen Xingwan.

She looked up and boldly met his gaze, her eyes carrying a sort of desperate determination and a resigned submissiveness:

“Wang Cheng told me to come and serve you, Manor Lord. Xingwan does not dare to leave her post without permission. If the Manor Lord does not rest, how would this Servant Girl dare to sleep first?”

She emphasized the words 'Servant Girl' particularly heavily.

Pausing for a moment, her voice became even softer, yet it carried a strange penetrating power:

“Besides... Xingwan does not dare to be less than devoted to the matters Sister Embroiderer entrusted to her.”

These words bluntly clarified her intentions, carrying a sacrificial honesty.

Situ Jun looked at her in silence.

The night breeze blew, the candlelight in the room flickered gently, and light and shadow shifted across her exquisite face.

The air seemed to freeze, with only the distant, faint sound of the night watchman's clapper echoing once, and then again, through the silent night.