Volume 1, Chapter 6: Why Is It You Again?

"Young Master Lu, why is it you again?"

A deep, displeased voice rang out from the direction of the main gate. Shen Xingdu looked toward the sound, squinting against the glare. A tall, imposing figure strode in through the golden sunlight: it was Yan Nanfei.

At the sight of him, Shen Xingdu instinctively hunched her shoulders and pulled in her neck, ceasing her struggle in Lu Shao’s grip.

Yan Nanfei walked with long, heavy strides, reaching them in a few moments. He stopped before Lu Shao and asked in a steady, unhurried voice:

"Does Young Master Lu have a penchant for my pet? You have done this time and again—do you have an explanation? Or shall I take this matter to the imperial court and ask Minister Lu himself? Does Young Master Lu have a habit of coveting what belongs to others?"

Lu Shao was set to take the provincial examinations in the spring. At such a critical juncture, a single word from Yan Nanfei in the imperial court could ruin his entire career. Lu Shao could not afford such a consequence; though anxious, he kept his face composed. He carefully set Shen Xingdu back on the ground and bowed with cupped hands, speaking respectfully:

"General Yan, there has surely been a misunderstanding..."

Just as Lu Shao began to explain, Shen Yue’e interrupted:

"What proof do you have that this is your fox? I say this is my fox! This is my courtyard, and everything in it belongs to the Shen estate! You are the one who broke in to steal it. Is there no law left in the Great Zhao?"

Lu Shao tried to pull her back, but he could not stop her.

Yan Nanfei let out a soft scoff through his nose, a sense of mockery hanging in the air. He radiated the natural authority of one in a high position; even the servants of the Shen household could see that this man was someone extraordinary and not to be trifled with. Yet, Shen Yue’e remained heedless.

Yan Nanfei did not waste more breath on her. He simply looked down at Shen Xingdu and said, "Not coming over? Waiting to be turned into a fur collar?"

Shen Xingdu limped toward him, looking like a child who had done something wrong, her head bowed low, not daring to meet his eyes. Under the gaze of the crowd, she shuffled to his side, and Yan Nanfei scooped her up with one arm.

He seemed satisfied with her current demeanor, rubbing her furry head. Seeing something clamped in her jaws, he commanded in a low voice:

"What are you holding in your mouth? Spit it out."

Reluctantly, Shen Xingdu opened her mouth and dropped a hairpin into his palm. "This is mine! Keep it safe for me—don't give it to them!"

Yan Nanfei looked at the hairpin in his hand. It was made of ebony and adorned with a gourd-shaped ornament of ebony, agate, and turquoise. The design was unique and exquisitely crafted; he had never seen any other woman wear a similar style. Seeing how nervous Shen Xingdu was about the object, he tucked it into his sleeve. Then, he reached out and smoothed her fur from her back down to the tip of her tail, straightening the mess she had made while running.

Being stroked by a man in such a public place, combined with the innate reactions of the fox’s body, made Shen Xingdu so bashful that she buried her face in Yan Nanfei’s chest, unable to look anywhere else. To the onlookers, this appeared to be a pet acting coy with its master. It was clear that this black fox was indeed the pet of General Yan. It was remarkably intelligent, whimpering at its master as if it could speak, with expressions more vivid than a human’s—truly a wonder.

Yan Nanfei curled his lips in a smug smile. He stopped his movements, careful to avoid her injured leg, and held her securely.

Shen Yue’e would not give up. She held out her bleeding hand to him. "Your fox ran into my house and bit me! It’s bleeding! You must be held responsible!"

Just then, Grand Tutor Shen and his wife hurried out from the inner courtyard. Ignoring Lu Shao and Shen Yue’e entirely, they rushed toward Yan Nanfei.

"General Yan, your presence in our humble abode brings us great honor. Why not send word ahead so we could have prepared a proper welcome? May I ask what brings the General here today? I am eager to hear."

Yan Nanfei held a pivotal position in the court, a formidable figure whom no faction could easily sway. When the servants reported his arrival, the Grand Tutor had thought he misheard, only rushing out after repeated confirmation.

Lu Shao and Shen Yue’e were left standing to the side, like children who had no place at the table, completely overlooked by their elders.

Yan Nanfei smiled, glancing at the deflated Shen Yue’e, and decided to regain some ground for his "beloved pet."

"I came to discuss a serious matter with the Grand Tutor. However, this young lady just now blocked my path, claiming my fox was property of the Shen estate. She also said my fox bit her hand. Is this young lady a servant of the Shen household? Why is she so unreasonable? Such a rude servant should be sold off early, lest she disturb guests and ruin the Grand Tutor’s lifelong reputation."

The atmosphere turned excruciatingly awkward. The Grand Tutor’s expression shifted, and he glared fiercely at Shen Yue’e.

"Father! I..."

Before Shen Yue’e could defend herself, Lady Shen pulled her behind her and pushed the Grand Tutor’s arm. The Grand Tutor sighed helplessly and bowed to Yan Nanfei: "General Yan, it is a misunderstanding. This is my daughter, Yue’e. She has been spoiled since childhood and did not mean to offend you. Please forgive her."

Shen Xingdu lifted her head from Yan Nanfei’s chest and looked back, curious, at Shen Yue’e hiding behind her mother. Her tail tip flicked involuntarily, showing a hint of a small fox’s triumph. These subtle movements did not escape Yan Nanfei’s eyes.

*This little thing is easy to coax,* he thought.

Suppressing a smile, Yan Nanfei stopped pursuing the matter and allowed the Grand Tutor to lead him toward the front hall. Shen Yue’e and Lu Shao were, of course, not invited to follow.

Shen Xingdu looked over Yan Nanfei’s shoulder at Lu Shao. Because of Yan Nanfei’s towering stature, Lu Shao looked much shorter than usual.

Her mother had lagged a few steps behind, whispering something into Shen Yue’e’s ear. Shen Yue’e shook her mother’s arm, acting spoiled. Such an intimate display between mother and daughter was something Shen Xingdu had never experienced. She had once thought that as the eldest daughter, her mother’s strictness was merely a standard she had to meet. She had not realized that her mother simply detested that she wasn't her biological child while still occupying all of her father’s attention and affection. All of her mother’s coldness was a manifestation of her love for her own flesh and blood.

But why did her father, who had once doted on her so much, now treat her as a discarded pawn?

Shen Xingdu could not fathom it. The small thrill of revenge quickly faded. She shrank back into Yan Nanfei’s embrace, listlessly playing the part of a well-behaved fox.

Once they entered the front hall, Yan Nanfei took his seat in the place of honor. He bowed with cupped hands once more and said solemnly:

"Minister Shen, Madam Shen, I have a request today—an uninvited one—and I hope you both will grant it."

The Grand Tutor had never seen Yan Nanfei act with such gravity. Yan Nanfei’s father was the Prime Minister, and both of his brothers held high positions. He himself was the iron-blooded general who had saved the people of Great Zhao from the chaos of war, striking fear into the hearts of neighboring nations, and had achieved great merit at a young age. The Yan family could be said to be the most powerful in Great Zhao, a lineage of both scholars and generals, deeply trusted by the Emperor.

Yan Nanfei was known for his solitary nature; at court, merely nodding at his colleagues was considered a great show of respect. Even the royals found it hard to earn a pleasant look from him. Yet here he was, personally visiting and solemnly asking for a favor?

What could the Shen household possibly offer the God of War of the Great Zhao?