"Your Majesty, these are the cakes that the Emperor sent yesterday. Would you like to take some back for General Shen and Deputy General Shen to try?"
Lianyun, carrying a vermilion lacquered wooden tray filled with exquisite pastries that looked as clear as jade tiles, walked up to Shen Qingwan who was checking her luggage and asked.
"Keep it and find a wooden box to put it in. Pack quickly or you won't miss the carriage leaving the palace." Shen Qingwan looked up and agreed. Although her family would not be short of these pastries and other snacks, she should still bring some things from the palace back with her brother this time.
Lianyun looked at Shen Qingwan busy packing her luggage and realized that she was now only thinking about going home to visit Shen Ji. This was a rare moment for her, unlike the empress who was usually indifferent and never smiled easily.
"Lianyun knows that Your Majesty is eager to return home. I will go and prepare now. Your Majesty, don't panic. The carriage will wait until we have packed before it leaves." Lianyun looked at Shen Qingwan with a smile, and then helped her pack her luggage.
When Shen Qingwan finally saw the large plaque with the words "Shen Mansion" inscribed on it, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. She was finally home. It had been a while since she last came home. Her father and brother were usually very busy, and there was no one at home, so there was no point in her coming back.
Lianyun helped Shen Qingwan get off the carriage and stepped onto the marble steps in front of the Shen Mansion. When the servant at the door saw that it was her who came back, he hurried into the house to report.
Upon hearing the voice, Shen Ji hurried out of the room and saw Shen Qingwan standing at the door from a distance. She was wearing a lotus-colored silk jacket with flowers carved on it and silver mice, a water-green cotton skirt embroidered with gold, and a light blue cape on her shoulders.
"Sister!" Shen Ji raised his voice slightly and called her happily.
Hearing the voice, Shen Qingwan looked in his direction, a smile as beautiful as a flower instantly bloomed on her face. Her eyes of joy were not concealed at all. She quickened her pace and trotted all the way to his front.
"It's been a long time since I saw you, brother." She looked up at him, her big watery eyes reflecting his clear face.
"Since you entered the palace, we have rarely seen each other."
Shen Ji also had a radiant look on his face, watching his sister grow up little by little in the palace from a little beauty to now having an extraordinary temperament. He felt both happy and pity in his heart. He knew that in the harem it would not be like being at home where he could enjoy the love of his family.
"Yes, brother, there are a lot of things to do in the army. You must pay more attention to your health. Don't neglect eating and rest when you are busy." Shen Qingwan took Shen Ji's arm and walked towards the pavilion in the garden with him.
"My sister is right, but I am very healthy, so you don't have to worry too much," Shen Ji said, laughing heartily, then looked down at her and warned her, "You are a girl, so you must be careful. Your health is not very good. Usually, ask the palace maids to prepare more nourishing porridge for you. Your family can't help you much, so you have to be careful."
"I know what's going on. Thank you for your concern, brother. If everything goes well for you outside, I will have less concerns and worries." Shen Qingwan looked at her brother with a gentle smile in her eyes.
The brother and sister grew up together. Shen Ji loves his sister very much. He would save all the delicious and fun things for his sister. Sometimes when Shen Ji was naughty and got into trouble, Shen Qingwan would be the first to go to their father to plead for him. The relationship between the brother and sister is very good.
"Okay, I'll keep your words in mind." Shen Ji picked up a teapot with a blue and white bird pattern and poured her a cup of tea. "Come, drink some water to warm yourself up."
Shen Qingwan took the teacup with a smile and took a sip carefully. "How long do you plan to stay this time, brother?"
"Not for long. There are indeed many military affairs, and I cannot be away for too long. My family does not need my care. I miss you alone in the palace the most."
Shen Ji also took a sip of tea, then reached out and patted Shen Qingwan's hand, and continued to ask: "How does the emperor treat you in the palace?"
Shen Qingwan seemed to be choked up and didn't answer immediately. In fact, she didn't know how to answer. There were three thousand beauties in the palace, and no matter how favored they were, they would not always have the emperor's favor. Fu Yuheng couldn't be bad to her, but he didn't dote on her to the extreme, and...
Shen Ji looked at her hesitant expression and felt anxious, "Is it not good for you?" His tone was full of worry. He only had this one sister, whom he doted on since she was a child. Now that she had entered the palace, it would be difficult for her to have his protection. He couldn't help but worry.
"No, no," Shen Qingwan waved her hands quickly, "I'm very good." Then she called Lianyun over, "Take out the box of cakes we brought back and let brother have a taste." Then she smiled and looked at Shen Ji, "Brother, these are cakes given by the emperor. You don't have time to eat these small cakes in the army. This time you come home for a rare opportunity, so I'll bring some for you to try."
"It's enough for me to know that you have this intention. I don't like cakes that much. You can keep it for yourself. As long as you know that the emperor treats you well, you can take good care of yourself in the palace, and I will feel more at ease in the army."
"I brought this back from far away, brother, please have at least one," Shen Qingwan smiled, picked up a cake, held it in her hand and brought it to her brother's mouth.
"Haha, okay, okay, I'll respectfully obey your command." Shen Ji ate the pastry, and Shen Qingwan handed him tea, which was very considerate.
The two of them were chatting happily in the pavilion until the butler came and called them to the study, saying that General Shen was waiting to see them.
"I was so happy to see my brother when I came back. I should go to pay my respects to father first." Shen Qingwan said as she stood up and went to the study with Shen Ji.
General Shen and others were in the study. The two of them walked into the study together and sat on the carved paulownia wood chairs on both sides of General Shen.
"It's rare for you two to get together at home. I want to prepare a welcoming banquet for you, Shen Ji, so that our family can have a good time together. What do you think?"
"Father, I think there's no need for a welcoming banquet. We're a family, so there's no need to go to great lengths. We can just have a family dinner together. I'll be returning to the army in a few days, and my sister will also be returning to the palace, so it's better to keep things simple." Shen Ji looked at Shen Qingwan, and she nodded slightly to show her agreement.
"Okay, since you young people have your ideas, I'll follow your advice." General Shen agreed to Shen Ji's suggestion and asked the kitchen to prepare some dishes that they and his sister usually liked to eat.
The three of them had dinner together. Shen Qingwan was satisfied after seeing her brother, so she left without staying any longer.