On this windless night, the sound of tapping on the window was exceptionally clear.
Jiang Zhan’s expression changed slightly as he stood up abruptly.
A-Man suddenly rushed forward. “Second Young Master, let this servant fetch you some tea!”
“Move aside.” Jiang Zhan pushed A-Man away with a serious expression and strode toward the window.
He hadn’t misheard—someone was knocking on the window!
It was already dark, and this was Fourth Sister’s chamber. How dare someone be outside the window at this hour!
Jiang Zhan rushed to the window with an ashen face, completely ignoring even Jiang Si’s call of “Second Brother.”
The window was yanked open, letting in a blast of cold air.
Jiang Si remained relatively composed, but A-Man and A-Qiao couldn’t help covering their mouths.
They’re done for! Young Miss’s secret meeting with Young Master Yu was about to be discovered by the Second Young Master! What would happen? Would Second Young Master have them drowned in pig cages?
These were A-Qiao’s thoughts.
A-Man squeezed her eyes shut, unable to watch.
Would there be a bloody battle between Second Young Master and Young Master Yu? If they fought, should she help Second Young Master or Young Master Yu?
A-Man opened her eyes uncertainly and glanced outside, immediately becoming dumbfounded.
Even more surprised than A-Man was Jiang Zhan.
He found himself staring at a large dog outside the window, thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him. He rubbed them vigorously.
It was indeed Er Niu!
Er Niu, with its front paws on the windowsill, twitched its nose.
Jiang Zhan’s face darkened completely as he furiously declared, “Er Niu, today young master will slaughter you for meat!”
Er Niu raised one front paw and waved it, seemingly either greeting Jiang Si or taunting the enraged Second Young Master Jiang, before turning and darting into the cold night.
Jiang Zhan braced his hands on the windowsill and nimbly jumped over it, quickly disappearing.
The window remained wide open, letting in cold air, while the three people inside stood frozen in shock.
A figure leaped in through the window with graceful movements, landing silently.
The newcomer wore a dark cloak and calmly turned to close the window after entering. He shook off his cloak, removing the frost, before handing it to the stunned A-Qiao.
His actions were so familiar and at ease, as if returning home.
A-Qiao naturally took the cloak and hung it on the rack.
Jiang Si looked at the approaching man, then glanced at the window. “Er Niu—”
Yu Jin walked over and took Jiang Si’s hand, saying casually, “That dog probably missed you and insisted on coming along. It worked out well, taking the blame for me.”
Jiang Si’s mouth twitched.
Only this scoundrel would so readily let his dog take the fall.
“It’s still early, why did you come now?” Jiang Si asked.
If he had come later, they wouldn’t have been caught by Second Brother.
Yu Jin winked and smiled. “Are you complaining that I came too early? If I came later, I might not want to leave…”
A-Qiao heard this and lowered her head with reddened cheeks, while A-Man remained vigilantly guarding the window.
Jiang Si gave Yu Jin a light smack. “Stop joking around, tell me what’s important!”
His hasty visit indicated he had serious matters to discuss.
Yu Jin raised his eyebrows and glanced at the two maids.
Jiang Si sighed. “We need someone watching the window in case Second Brother returns.”
Being accidentally discovered was one thing, but if possible, she didn’t want her brother to suffer such a shock.
Yu Jin smiled. “He won’t return. I know Er Niu well—with that dog around, your Second Brother won’t be able to come back.”
At this point, Seventh Prince Yu’s expression soured.
At such a late hour, why was Jiang Zhan in A-Si’s chambers?
Jiang Si silently rolled her eyes.
Er Niu had learned bad habits from Seventh Prince Yu—it used to be such a well-behaved dog.
“You may withdraw,” Jiang Si naturally trusted Yu Jin’s words and waved for A-Qiao and A-Man to leave.
Once the maids had withdrawn, Yu Jin immediately pulled Jiang Si into his embrace, complaining, “Why was Jiang Second here?”
Caught off guard by the sudden closeness, Jiang Si instinctively pushed back slightly and explained, “Today is the Winter Solstice. I made some dumplings for Second Brother since he’s been on duty. He came specially to thank me.”
Yu Jin’s brows drew together in deepening displeasure. “You even made dumplings for him?”
“He’s my Second Brother!” Jiang Si said helplessly.
Yu Jin gritted his teeth. “I know he’s your brother, otherwise I would have broken his legs already.”
Jiang Si gave him a look. “If you don’t tell me what’s important soon, I’m going to bed.”
Yu Jin pulled her to sit down and smiled. “At the palace family banquet, Father Emperor brought up my marriage.”
Jiang Si stiffened slightly.
Though she believed he had a plan, she was still anxious and curious about how he would overcome the obstacles between them.
Surely the Emperor wouldn’t directly arrange their marriage when bringing up the Seventh Prince’s marriage matters.
Then Yu Jin said, “After the New Year, Noble Consort Xian and Noble Consort Zhuang will jointly host a plum blossom viewing banquet to select brides for me and the Prince of Shu.”
Listening to Yu Jin’s words, Jiang Si sighed inwardly.
Yu Jin only referred to his mother as Noble Consort Xian, showing the distance in their mother-son relationship.
She didn’t care about other matters, only feeling heartache for this man.
Yu Jin was particularly sensitive to Jiang Si’s reactions and noticed her eyes suddenly softening. He smiled and asked, “What is it?”
Jiang Si naturally wouldn’t be foolish enough to mention Yu Jin’s relationship with Noble Consort Xian, and lowered her gaze saying, “I’m afraid I won’t be qualified to receive an invitation to that plum blossom viewing banquet.”
Yu Jin burst out laughing.
His laughter was clear and rich, somewhere between a man’s and a youth’s, like perfectly aged wine that made one’s heart tingle upon hearing it.
“What are you laughing at?” Jiang Si glanced at him sideways.
Yu Jin placed his hand on Jiang Si’s hair and ruffled it. “Silly girl, of course, you’ll receive an invitation.”
Jiang Si reached up to protect her hair but ended up covering his hand which hadn’t yet moved away.
She held his hand while he gazed at her.
They looked at each other, and the room fell silent.
Coming back to his senses, Yu Jin let out a long sigh.
Before marriage, he’d better not tempt this girl anymore, or he would be the one suffering.
He lowered his hand and gently tucked her loose hair behind her ear, saying softly, “In any case, don’t overthink these days, just enjoy the New Year peacefully. When the plum blossom viewing banquet comes, you needn’t do anything special—I’ll handle everything.”
Jiang Si’s lips moved, wanting to ask exactly what he planned to do, but meeting those dark bright eyes filled with tender smiles, she silently swallowed her words.
“I’ll take my leave then.” Yu Jin placed a kiss on Jiang Si’s forehead before jumping out the window.
Jiang Si walked to the window and watched as he turned to wave at her before disappearing into the night.
“Miss, has Young Master Yu left already?” A-Man entered upon hearing the window close.
Jiang Si said sternly, “Go to bed.”
What was with the little maid’s expression of disappointment at Yu Jin leaving so early?
At that moment, screams erupted from the second gate.
Heavens above, Second Young Master has been taken by a monster!
No, Second Young Master was chasing a monster!
“There’s a monster—” The gatekeeper’s screams quickly drew many people out to look.
In a hidden corner, Jiang Zhan clutched the bite hole in his bottom, his face ashen with anger. “Just you wait. Er Niu, just you wait!”
Er Niu bent its hind legs and sat down, waiting.