Yes, I Do(n't)

Chapter 5: Hello there

After they are done with their lunch. The whole family then goes to the garden to have a look at the gardener and the servants uprooting all of the chrysanthemums before planting daffodils onto the same ground. Shen Baiyu gently smiles as she sees that the daffodils have been planted in the garden.

Captain Shen Yili look at her and ask, "Why daffodils?"

She looks at him and answers, "Rebirth... From this day onwards, I will no longer live in the shadow."

General Shen Jilie looks at the determination on her face. For the first time, her daughter is no longer acts a helpless miss. He is, of course, happy with this new change from his daughter but he cannot help but worry about her future. Concubine Li Xiyin sees how worry he is, she gently takes his hand and patted it to reassure him that everything will be alright.

Leaving the still under construction garden, they went to the waiting hall and enjoy their digestion tea while having a family talk. Seeing that her daughter repeatedly yawns, First Princess Nangong Rouran instructs the nanny to take her daughter back to her courtyard for her nap time. Shen Baiyu calmly sips on her tea while listening to her family members conversing with one another.

Concubine Li Xiyin looks at her and smile, this eldest miss has become more and more beautiful each day she thought to herself. Her new attitude only enhances her attractiveness. She can only pray that the engagement will be annulled without any unwanted incidents. If the crown prince knows that his supposed "ugly" fiancée is, in fact, a beautiful one and acts quite regally as well, what will he do? Would he accuse them of misleading him? She can only think positively that he will not bother because he will soon marry Second Princess Beitang Xing. There is no need for the eldest (di) miss of the Shen family to lower herself to be someone's concubine.

Shen Baiyu looks at Concubine Li Xiyin and smiles at her. She as a modern 21st-century woman cannot imagine how women are willing to share a husband. The truth is, no women are willing to do so. But this woman is willing to be a concubine and even when the main and official wife had passed away, she is still content to remain as a concubine. Not only that, she is even raising her stepdaughter with nothing but genuine love and care. She respected that. Even the half-siblings are being nothing but nice towards her. In other words, despite being such a timid and reclusive eldest miss, she still being treated with the utmost care by everyone in the manor. She is thankful for that and more the reason for her to live like a lazy eldest miss but then... She has to go out in the public more often in order for her to check on the current market trends. Knowing that marriage will be a bit harder and difficult once she is no longer the fiancée of the crown prince, she can only substitute that 'failure' by being a successful merchant. Moli told her that though not many, women can be involved the merchant and trading businesses. Still, this body is still too weak... She will slowly and gradually train his body to be just as lithe and fit as her 34-year old body.

"Father, can I get a horse? I wish to go out and having a horse for me to ride is much more convenient."

General Shen Jilie look at her and asks, "Do you know how to ride a horse?"

Shen Baiyu smiles sweetly and answers, "I can learn... Ah... I wanted to learn martial arts too."

By now, Captain Shen Yili look at her and says, "But, you are only used with your lessons... Can your body take it?"

"I am done with the lessons on how to become a perfect woman... It is not like I have the chance to ever get married with any of the royal family members. My lessons are completely rubbish. Let me do what I want, father..."

"So, be it... We will start your training tomorrow. It will do good on your body. I wanted you to live a healthy life, Baiyu..."

General Shen Jilie suddenly stops and take a deep breath. Shen Baiyu knows that this man really does love his late wife too much. And, his biggest regret is for not realizing that his wife is pregnant with a child then. If he did, he will insist on aborting the baby from the very beginning. But even though Mu Shuiling was a weak and sickly person, she was quite stubborn and insisted to give birth to her child before dying soon after.

Concubine Li Xiyin then says, "It is good for Baiyu to have the intention of learning martial arts. Lianhua, you should join too. Husband, I will make sure that Baiyu will be given nutritious food so that her body will be stronger."

General Shen Jilie smile and nods his head. After having such a fulfilling family talk, Shen Baiyu excuses herself to go back to her courtyard. General Shen Jilie and Concubine Li Xiyin allowed her to go back while watching her disappearing figure together with her maidservant, Moli.

"Husband, she has changed a lot since she has woken up. She no longer wears her veil whenever she is outside her courtyard. And, being quite involved with us too. I am happy but worries as well... What if the outsiders realized that she is not 'ugly' as she is rumoured to be?"

General Shen Jilie smiles and says, "Do not worry, madame. Both Yili and I have instructed all those working with our family to keep their mouths shut and their loyalties intact. Especially when it comes to Baiyu's matters. They seem to be quite taken by her too and quite supportive when they knew that she intends for her engagement to be annulled."

Shen Lianhua then adds, "I saw that our guards are treating the crown prince and his royal guard with contempt too as they repeatedly refused to allow them to enter the manor. Such a wonderful sight!"

First Princess Nangong Rouran laughs when she heard what her sister-in-law has just said. It is good to be living with caring and protective people. She definitely preferred her in-law’s manor than the imperial palace where it is full of schemings. She looks at her husband and squeezes his hand as he lovingly smiles at her.

Meanwhile, upon arriving the moon gate door to her courtyard, Shen Baiyu stops her steps and stand in front of it with a smile on her face. After years of training in martial arts and military combat, her sharp instincts alerted her that there is someone in her courtyard. Once more, she gently covers her face with her pinned veil.

(Picture available on w*****d)

"Moli, go to the kitchen and get me some tea and desserts."

Moli nods her head and leaves her alone standing there. Once she no longer hears Moli's steps. She calmly enters her courtyard and says, "Hello there stranger... Is there anything that I can do for you? For a man who dares to enter an unmarried lady's courtyard, you definitely bold even with the glaring fact that this is the Shen family's manor."

Crown Prince Beitang Moran is pleasantly surprised that she has discovered his existence. He then comes out from behind the huge tree and greets her respectfully with a smile on his face.

Underneath her veil, she can see that he is another good-looking man for her to enjoy feasting her eyes on, "Who are you? Don't tell me that you are sent by His Royal Highness to spy on me?"

"No, Eldest Miss Shen. I come here out of curiosity to check on you. I have heard about you from others and I cannot stop thinking about you. I am glad that we have to chance to talk with each other."

"I am glad that you are glad too stranger but this type of 'meeting' is highly suspicious. After all, I am still an unmarried lady with a so-called fiancé. You better leave now before my maidservant come back."

"We will meet again... And, when we do. I hope that you will agree to my request."

"What request..."

Before she managed to ask him, that man has gone from her sight. Is that a legendary qi gong? She definitely has to learn that too. But, most importantly, who the hell is he??? Even the original owner of this body seems to have no recollection whatsoever about the man she has just met. Still, as he is such a handsome man...

"This older sister forgives you for trespassing into her courtyard... If only ancient people can meet opposite s*x freely, I will have a whale of a time for sure. Too bad... Too bad..."