Villain Path

Chapter 71. Night 1

The long day was almost over. Shen sat on the terrace of his pavilion and wondered how came that such a large family had spread out so unobtrusively around the house. During the whole day, he managed to communicate only with Shuer and get to know Ker.

His thoughts went back to that dream of Muan. What a pity that the mind speech works only at a small distance of a few meters, and even then if you specifically tune in to your common "wave". Otherwise, he would have asked the Lord what the hell he was doing. They had even reconciled, so why was Muan showing such disdain for his person? He could have just told Shen what his business was!

Night fell on the world, and the estate was completely silent. As he was going to bed, Shen heard the muffled sound of a child crying. It must be Ker's new-born baby, Shen thought. How clearly screams can be heard in the silence of the night.

It was a busy day of walking. Although Shen could walk ten times as far without feeling tired, now his body was insistently demanding rest. He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

He was sitting in front of a huge mirror. On the table in front of him was a hairpin, a writing brush, a red bean bracelet, and a simple wooden comb. Shen picked up a comb and slowly combed his long hair. He looked at the mirror, but he couldn't see his reflection in it. The comb fell from his hand in surprise. Without taking his eyes off the empty mirror, Shen felt for the comb with a trembling hand.

He woke up cold. He stared blankly at the still dark ceiling for a moment, then sat up and stared at the neatly folded blanket on the edge of the bed. The blanket that he certainly covered himself with when he went to bed. And now it was folded in several layers. This was some very strange joke.

Shen looked around the dimly lit room. No one lurked in the corners, except for the shadows. The doors were tightly closed. He got up and looked out, but the courtyard was quiet and fresh in the early morning.

There was nothing to do but go back to bed, spread out the blanket again, and cover himself with it again.

***

The next day, Shen was lucky enough to meet the dignitary Shitan. He really wanted to talk to his brother's son more closely, so he waved at him from afar and smiled.

"Uncle Shen," the man immediately bowed respectfully.

It was still hard to get used to being treated with such respect, especially by people who looked so much older than him. Even though the real Shen was definitely over sixty, this Shen was half his age, and he still didn't feel like a "seasoned older generation". And the man in front of him looked about fifty years old.

"Are you in a hurry? Am I keeping you?" he asked Shitan first.
"Nothing like that," the man assured him, automatically adjusting his formal suit.

Shen wanted to know a lot. Some simple things: how are they doing, how are Ritu and her elder brother (forgot the name), how are things at work... Some little things that people usually talk about. But he had no idea how he could ask, they weren't that close. Wanting to learn more, but not knowing how to ask questions — that's what Shen is all about.

"Are you comfortable in the Winter Pavilion?" Shitan asked.

"Yes, thank you. It's very nice and comfortable."

"There are the warmest rooms on the estate. Father said you were in poor health. The nights are already chilly, don't hesitate to ask for a brazier if you get cold."

"Thank you, everything is fine…" The thought of the heat and the brazier somehow reminded him of the baby's cry he had heard the day before. "Such a joyful event is now in the family…"