Chapter 5 – Can I sleep with you? (5)
A woman led her by hand to a couch, sat her down, and asked her, “How old are you?”
Shu Nuan looked at her blankly, and said, “Sixteen.”
The woman smiled, and said, “Not too old. Fortunately, you look like someone who has just turned 15, but you probably still don't know how to serve someone. Is that right?”
Shu Nuan kept looking at the woman. She seemed to be somewhat different from other people.
However, what the woman taught her was enough to make Shu Nuan blush with shame, her neck and ears turning red.
Seeing the little girl embarrassed, the woman patted her little hand and said, “Don't think too much. It'll be better to get used to it. And it’s a good chance to change your life. If you can be brave and do a good job, you might free herself. But if you can't do well, you may remain a mere slave in your life.”
That night, Shu Nuan was escorted to Prince Sheng Qianmo's courtyard.
She wasn’t given any footwear, and sat at the wooden couch stiffly while looking around the large bedroom. She felt a chill. Perhaps her nightgown was too thin.
Shu Nuan didn't know how long she waited for before inadvertently falling asleep on the cold wood.
***
When Sheng Gu learned that her Fourth Imperial Uncle had returned to the manor, she immediately went to ask Li Yuan if he was handling government affairs in the Shu Pavilion.
She took jade dumplings she had made personally and went to the library.
Knock!
Sheng Qianmo was still looking down at the letters handed over from the Northern Xinjiang, when he heard a knock on the door, and spat out a single word without lifting his head.
“Come in.”
Sheng Gu gently pushed open the door and went in. She saw that Sheng Qianmo was busy and did not dare to disturb him. She walked to a table and carefully put the box of food on top of it. Sheng Qianmo finally looked up at her, and said, “Why are you here?”
“Uncle, I made some snacks,” she replied.
Sheng Gu looked as if she had something more to say. Yet she didn’t dare, so she started to take out the tray of food from the box instead.
Sheng Qianmo did not look at the dumplings she brought over. He just responded with an “En” sound. While reading the letter, he asked her, “Is there anything else you want to say?”
Sheng Gu hesitated for a moment, but couldn’t help asking, “Fourth Uncle, could you take me out to play? I haven't gone out in a long time.”
Sheng Qianmo was silent for a moment before he nodded.
“Yes.”
Hearing him agree, Sheng Gu’s eyes brightened slightly. She smiled happily, and said, “Thank you, Fourth Uncle!”
“Go now. Go to bed early.”
Sheng Gu smiled and nodded, then left.
After reading the last letter, Sheng Qianmo left the library and returned to his courtyard.
But as soon as he entered the hall, he paused.
He saw the girl who had run into him and turned pale with fright earlier that day. Now, she lay asleep on the table, wearing a soft gauze nightgown. Her black hair was loosely tied behind her head with a blue ribbon, and her small face was buried in her slender arm.
Sheng Qianmo stood there. His gaze took a path that began at her feet and moved upwards.
The petite girl wasn’t wearing any footwear, and her two pretty ankles were still shackled. Her feet looked so soft, with white little toes, which almost seemed to be glowing, and translucent pink nails.
The cyan colored nightgown outlined her figure perfectly. The word "slave" stood out on her white collarbone.
And further up was a small face with the eyes peacefully closed, sleeping. Thin curved eyebrows, and slightly hanging eyelashes, with an unnatural lustre, that half covered her tear mole. A sharp and firm nose, and soft thin rosy lips.
Sheng Qianmo couldn't help but stare.
–
[1] – ED: ‘Fourth Imperial Uncle’ will be shortened to ‘Fourth Uncle’ in the future, as will be the case for the other Princes who are Sheng Gu’s uncles.
[2] – ED : ‘Courtyard’ will refer to his living space within the whole ShengHe Manor.