Chapter 83: The Shen Family Heirloom Jade Plate

“Was Young Unicorn the one you brought back?”

After returning to her room, Shen Zhujun looked straight at Chen Yuyi and asked this.

Chen Yuyi avoided her gaze and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “What do you think?”

“What do you mean, what do I think? Was it you or not?” Shen Zhujun, still shaken by what had happened that night, was far from her usual calm. She even seemed a little agitated.

Chen Yuyi studied her for a moment. It was the first time he had seen Shen Zhujun in such a state. It seemed her family meant a great deal to her.

“The person is back safe and sound, isn’t that enough? I don’t know who saved her.”

With that, he shook his head with a smile and paid her no further attention.

Shen Zhujun stamped her foot in frustration, tempted to rush up and give him a good pounding. But she also knew that pressing him would not yield any answer. Though she could not be certain whether it was truly this man who had brought her sister back, in her heart she was almost convinced that even if he had not done it himself, he was certainly involved.

Only, since he had done it, why would he refuse to admit it? That she could not quite understand. Then she thought again that even if she tried to explain it to her mother and sister, those two probably would not believe her anyway.

She sighed helplessly, and to her own surprise, found herself secretly hoping that things between them might improve.

The next day, Shen Chengde still had not returned, and Xu Ruizhi could not be bothered to look for him anymore.

However, she was still somewhat uneasy about Shen Young Unicorn, so she did not even let her go to school. She was told to stay home for a few days, calm down, and lie low for the time being.

After what had happened the previous day, Shen Young Unicorn had become much more obedient. She dared not go anywhere and stayed home the whole time.

Chen Yuyi also knew that the mother and daughter were not fond of him, so he did his best to avoid meeting their eyes and was just about to go out to give them some space.

At that moment, Luo Tao, who served beside Old Madam Shen, came looking for him.

“Young master, the old madam would like to invite you over,” she said respectfully.

Chen Yuyi nodded. He had been meaning to pay Old Madam Shen a visit anyway, so he followed Luo Tao to the shabby little building where she lived.

Old Madam Shen was practicing calligraphy. She was still writing in an elegant regular script, fully absorbed, and without looking up she said softly, “Wait a moment. I only have a few more characters to finish.”

Chen Yuyi nodded and said nothing. He stood quietly at the side, waiting.

After the final strokes fell into place, Old Madam Shen finally looked up. “Yuyi, why are you standing? Sit down.”

Chen Yuyi smiled faintly. “Grandmother’s handwriting is beautiful.”

Old Madam Shen took the towel Luo Tao handed her and wiped her hands, then pointed to a chair. “Sit. I don’t have much to do each day. If I don’t find something to pass the time, it gets hard to bear. I’m getting old now, and my hands tremble a little, so I practice writing to exercise my wrists. It’s not about whether it looks beautiful or not. Don’t tease your grandmother.”

As she spoke, she motioned for Chen Yuyi to sit closer.

Chen Yuyi smiled lightly and said nothing more. Suddenly, he wondered whether he should take out a Spring-Rejuvenating Pill for her right then and there. Since he could tell that Old Madam Shen treated him well, he had long had the idea. He was only afraid of frightening her, so he had never dared bring it out.

“Grandmother, why don’t I make you twenty years younger? Then your hands wouldn’t tremble anymore.”

Old Madam Shen gave a soft laugh. Naturally, she took this as a joking attempt on his part to amuse her. “And you have such a skill? Twenty years younger, then I’d be back to the way I looked at sixty, hahaha, not bad, not bad!”

“Grandmother doesn’t believe me?” Chen Yuyi asked with a smile.

“All right, Yuyi. I know you’re trying to cheer your grandmother up, and you’ve already succeeded. Let’s talk about something serious,” Old Madam Shen said, suppressing her laughter.

Chen Yuyi did not press the matter further. Since she did not quite believe him, there was no need to say more. After all, Old Madam Shen had not witnessed the sight of Yuan Xiang becoming a girl with her own eyes, so her disbelief was only natural.

Hearing her mention something serious, he wondered what it might be.

At that moment, Old Madam Shen had Luo Tao bring over a white jade dish about the size of a bowl. It was clear and translucent, obviously no ordinary object.

Chen Yuyi’s heart gave a jolt. Could this be the Shen family’s jade dish?

After carefully taking it from Luo Tao, Old Madam Shen indeed said, “Yuyi, this is the family heirloom passed down through generations of the Shen family: the White Jade Dish.”

She gently stroked the dish. “Ever since your grandfather passed away, I have been keeping it. There was once a note left by our ancestors saying it was a magical artifact, but for generations our family has never managed to discover its true use. Apart from that, keeping it nearby does seem to calm the mind, soothe the spirit, and nourish the body.”

“I’ve benefited from it over the years, which is why I’ve remained in fairly good health. But I know there are many outside who covet it. The Shen family has not yet fallen, so they would not dare seize it by force, but their schemes have long since begun.”

Old Madam Shen paused, then continued, “I am old now and can no longer safeguard this heirloom of our family, so today I intend to hand it to you. Naturally, the responsibility of protecting it will also fall to you.”

Chen Yuyi listened quietly. At first, he had only been somewhat curious about the Shen family’s jade dish and had not intended to take it. But now, with Old Madam Shen actually entrusting it to him, he could not help but feel surprised.

“Since it benefits your health, you should keep it by your side. With me here, no one will dare set their sights on this jade dish.”

Old Madam Shen smiled faintly. “I’m already old. Even if it does help the body, I won’t have many years left with it before I go see the old man. You are still young. Perhaps you may yet uncover its true purpose. If that happens, it will also fulfill the wish of our Shen family across several generations.”

“Then you could give the jade dish to Zhujun or Young Unicorn, or to her as well,” Chen Yuyi said.

Old Madam Shen’s eyes narrowed with a smile. “It’s not that I don’t trust them. It’s that they truly do not have the ability. And as for what happened last night, do mother and daughter really think that because I am old, if they do not tell me, I will know nothing at all?”

Chen Yuyi paused slightly. This Old Madam Shen truly gave him the impression of a woman sharpened by age into a kind of uncanny wisdom.

“Through what happened last night, I am even more convinced that I should place the Shen family entirely in your hands. You are fully capable of protecting it well. Still, I hope you will not mind Ruizhi and the others for their ignorance. However ignorant they may be, they are still members of the Shen family, and one day they will see gold shine. Just be a little understanding toward them.”

Chen Yuyi smiled lightly. “Since I have come to the Shen family, and since you hold me in such regard, how could I possibly mind such trivial matters?”

Old Madam Shen nodded and held the jade dish out to him. “From now on, it will be in your care.”

Chen Yuyi said no more. Old Madam Shen had spoken so plainly that further refusal would only seem redundant.

He immediately stood and received the jade dish with both hands, solemnly.

As soon as he took it, he was not sure whether it had been warmed by Old Madam Shen’s hands after being held for so long, or whether it had always carried some slight warmth of its own. The moment it touched him, a gentle current seemed to flow into his heart, warm and soothing beyond measure.

At first glance, the jade dish had the look of something between jade and stone, its material evidently extraordinary. Beneath its surface, faint currents of light seemed to shimmer and drift, and even Chen Yuyi could not help but marvel.

“Remember what your grandmother told you,” Old Madam Shen said, as if setting down a great burden at last, her face relaxed.

“Yuyi will never fail in the trust Grandmother has placed in me.” Chen Yuyi then bowed respectfully to Old Madam Shen.

Old Madam Shen accepted the bow with evident pleasure, nodding gently. “Good. You may go now. Come visit Grandmother often if you have nothing else to do.”

“Certainly.”

Chen Yuyi was about to leave, but after a moment’s hesitation, he still took out a Spring-Rejuvenating Pill.

“Grandmother, this pill really can make you twenty years younger. Whether you believe me or not, you may as well try it.”

With that, Chen Yuyi left with a smile and returned to the front building.

Old Madam Shen stared at the Spring-Rejuvenating Pill before her, her old eyes flashing repeatedly.

“Old Madam, could what the young master said possibly be true?” Luo Tao asked in disbelief, covering her mouth.

Old Madam Shen rose slowly, her expression turning serious. “I truly thought it was only a joke before, but now I’m beginning to believe it.”

“Then, Old Madam, hurry and take it to see. I’ll get you some water,” Luo Tao said, hurrying off at once.

Old Madam Shen held the pill and did not even wait for Luo Tao to return with water. She placed it gently in her mouth, and almost at once a flood of saliva rose beneath her tongue; the pill slipped down her throat.

When Luo Tao returned with the water and called out, “Old Madam, I’ve brought the water!”

Old Madam Shen turned her head.

The cup in Luo Tao’s hand clattered to the floor.