Yining was curious about where Luo Shengyuan was taking her.
He should be the center of attention, receiving praise in the front courtyard. Instead, he was leading her along the corridor.
Red silk lanterns hung on both sides, and a cool evening breeze blew.
Luo Shengyuan finally stopped and released Yining’s hand. He took out a red paper from his sleeve and handed it to her.
Yining unfolded it to read: “Joyous news: Luo Shengyuan of your esteemed household has achieved top rank in the North Zhili provincial examination and is listed on the imperial roll of honor.”
It was the official announcement of his top scholar status!
Yining looked at his calm face, suddenly at a loss for words. Nothing seemed adequate to express his thoughtfulness.
Luo Shengyuan patted her head and asked with a smile, “Does this count as ‘how well you do depends on how well you study’?”
Yining, having lived over 40 years across two lifetimes, found few things truly moving. But looking at Luo Shengyuan’s face, she thought silently that regardless of whether he became Prime Minister in the future, it didn’t matter. He was her third brother, and she would always be good to him.
She suddenly remembered the white jade pendant.
She had meant to give it to him, but he’d been busy all day.
“Third Brother, wait here. I’ll be right back,” Yining said before running off. She had left the pendant in her jewelry box.
Luo Shengyuan couldn’t stop her and watched her small figure disappear down the corridor.
Fearing he’d grow impatient, Yining ran quickly. She tripped over a threshold, not paying attention, and fell, her knee stinging with pain. Songzhi, carrying a basket, saw her fall and hurried to help her up. “Young Miss, why are you running so fast? Are you hurt?”
Her knee burned, likely bruised. Yining lamented getting clumsier with age, and falling while running. Thankfully, her Third Brother hadn’t seen it – how embarrassing.
“It’s nothing,” Yining said, standing up and dusting herself off. She asked Songzhi to bring her the finished jade pendant.
Songzhi remained concerned: “You should sit down and let me check. We mustn’t risk injuring your tendons or bones.”
Yining felt it best not to keep Luo Shengyuan waiting.
“I’ll be back soon,” she instructed Songzhi. “Don’t tell Grandmother I fell.”
Songzhi nodded, watching her young miss limp away. At least the fall had slowed her down.
Yining saw Luo Shengyuan still waiting in the distance, his robes billowing in the night breeze. Tall and graceful, his expression impassive. Her Third Brother was indeed handsome; who knew how many admirers he’d attract in the future. Yining thought of Miss Gao next door – her character and beauty might just be worthy of him.
Luo Shengyuan turned to look at Yining. Her little face was flushed, but her gait seemed off as if she was limping…
He frowned, bending down to examine her leg.
“What happened? Did you hurt your leg?”
Yining handed him the jade pendant she was clutching, smiling as she explained: “I found this raw jade from Mother’s collection. She wasn’t using it, so I carved a pendant for you in the shape of a pixiu. Look, Third Brother, it’s top-quality mutton-fat jade!”
Luo Shengyuan frowned again: “Yining, I’m asking about your leg.”
Realizing she couldn’t hide it, Yining reluctantly said: “I was running too fast and tripped over the threshold. Don’t worry about it, Third Brother…”
Luo Shengyuan took the pendant, admiring the fine jade quality and lifelike pixiu carving. He rubbed it in his palm for a moment before putting it away. Looking at Yining, he said calmly: “You could have given it to me tomorrow. Why run so fast and hurt yourself?”
Yining felt a bit upset. This man – she had wanted to give it today for good luck.
What was that expression? If he didn’t like it, he could give it back. She wouldn’t mind keeping it herself.
“If Third Brother disdains it, then give it back to me,” Yining reached for his sleeve, but he dodged. He held it high, out of her reach. Yining, small for her age, jumped futilely, unable to reach his sleeve.
“Once given, how can it be taken back?” Luo Shengyuan looked down at her, amused by her inability to reach him. “Will you run so recklessly next time?”
Yining took a deep breath, deciding not to argue with Luo Shengyuan. She reluctantly said: “I won’t run…”
He seemed somewhat satisfied. Looking at her foot with a sigh, he extended his hand: “Come here.”
Yining looked confused: “What is it?”
“You’ve hurt your leg. I’ll carry you back,” Luo Shengyuan said simply, picking her up as one would carry a child. Yining was still small, so he carried her directly towards the main hall.
It was the first time her brother had carried her. Yining instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, noticing a faint, pleasant warmth emanating from him. Her birth mother had passed away after having her and her two sisters. The sisters, close in age, didn’t dote on her. With limited resources, everyone fended for themselves, regardless of who was the youngest.
Old Madam Luo raised an eyebrow upon seeing Luo Shengyuan carrying Yining: “Didn’t you say your hands were sore earlier?”
The Gao family had left, and Concubine Qiao and Chen Shi had also excused themselves. After the festivities, the room felt eerily quiet.
Luo Shengyuan placed Yining on the luohan bed, explaining to Old Madam Luo: “She hurt her leg.”
Old Madam Luo looked at Yining with an amused expression: “You never fall when you’re bouncing around normally. What happened today?”
Yining didn’t want to explain further. One misstep leads to eternal regret – she now fully understands this saying.
Old Madam Luo called a maid to check Yining’s injury. Just then, a servant arrived, saying the Second Master wanted to see Luo Shengyuan in the study.
“Yining, I have to go to the Governor’s office tomorrow,” Luo Shengyuan told her. “Don’t move around these next few days. Rest and recover.”
Luo Shengyuan bid farewell to Old Madam Luo and left the main hall.
After he left, Old Madam Luo examined Yining’s wound. It wasn’t serious, just a scrape with some blood that looked worse than it was. She tapped Yining’s nose: “Now that your brother is a top scholar, are you happy?”
Yining thought to herself that of course she was happy, but the family dynamics might change.
Old Madam Luo took some gauze from Mama Xu and began bandaging Yining. Yining watched the Old Madam’s hands, like aged but lustrous silk, so gentle. She obediently leaned against Old Madam Luo, thinking that as long as Grandmother was by her side, all would be well. Yet she didn’t know how much longer she could rely on her grandmother.
Candles flickered in Luo Chengzhang’s study.
He was waiting for Luo Shengyuan.
When he received the news at the office today, he was utterly shocked. How could it be Luo Shengyuan? Why Luo Shengyuan? This eldest son by a concubine whom he had never paid attention to. His elder brother, however, quickly composed himself, looking at Luo Shengyuan with unusual gravity.
Luo Chengzhang originally had two concubines in his household. He preferred the more docile one, but she was harmed by the other, resulting in the death of both mother and child. That concubine had always been gloomy and cunning, yet incredibly intelligent.
After Luo Shengyuan’s birth, Luo Chengzhang didn’t like him much and barely paid attention to him. Though he was his eldest son by a concubine, he wasn’t mistreated. Luo Shengyuan was always quiet and unremarkable, which further reduced Luo Chengzhang’s regard for him.
Luo Chengzhang focused on nurturing Xuan’er, hoping he would uphold the second branch of the family in the future.
Earlier at the banquet, when the Governor jovially toasted him and asked how he normally educated Luo Shengyuan, he couldn’t answer. Luo Shengyuan smoothly interjected, saying calmly: “Father is busy with official duties; I wouldn’t burden him with household matters.”
Luo Chengzhang felt embarrassed, but the Governor praised Luo Shengyuan as a promising youth.
A maid announced Luo Shengyuan’s arrival, and Luo Chengzhang turned to face him.
This eldest son by a concubine stood before him. Perhaps it was his upright posture, or perhaps it was Luo Chengzhang’s perception, but Luo Shengyuan’s composed demeanor felt somewhat intimidating. What he had previously seen as reticence, he now recognized as subtle forbearance.
What was he thinking? What was he plotting?
He had witnessed people’s disdain towards him, saying nothing, showing nothing. Or perhaps he had been silently noting everything, coldly calculating everyone’s thoughts, including his own. As Luo Chengzhang considered this, Luo Shengyuan’s image seemed to overlap with that of his mother.
It chilled and frightened him.
“Luo Shengyuan,” Luo Chengzhang looked at him, frowning. “Have you been… hiding things from me all this time?”
Luo Shengyuan smiled faintly, saying, “Father, it’s not that I hid anything from you, but that you never cared about me.”
Luo Chengzhang was taken aback. Then, anger rose in him. Pointing at Luo Shengyuan, he said, “How can this behavior be considered upright? Don’t you understand ‘A gentleman is open and poised; a petty man is always anxious’? One must be righteous in their actions. How can I face your uncle with you behaving like this?”
Hearing Luo Chengzhang’s words, Luo Shengyuan remained very calm: “Father, do you think Uncle is a gentleman? Or is Elder Brother a gentleman?”
Luo Chengzhang was momentarily speechless, then said in a low tone: “What do you mean by that?”
“You can think about it yourself,” Luo Shengyuan said, hands behind his back. He picked up a book from Luo Chengzhang’s desk, glanced at the title, and continued. “You love reading this unofficial history. There’s a story about brothers in a prince’s mansion fighting over a mysterious family heirloom jade. You often reread this part. What do you think of this story?”
Luo Chengzhang remained silent for a moment.
“Though born of the same root, with shared interests, everyone has their pursuits,” Luo Shengyuan said. “Shouldn’t you be happy about my achievements, Father?”
Luo Chengzhang narrowed his eyes. Finally, he said: “In the future, you can come to me with any questions. If you need anything, tell your mother. Given your current abilities, the family tutors might not be adequate for you anymore. In a few months, when you go to the capital with your uncle, I’ll write a letter to Zhang Hanlin to recommend a private tutor for you.”
Luo Shengyuan acknowledged the instruction and took his leave.
After he left, Luo Chengzhang called a maid: “I’ll be staying with the Madam tonight. Go inform her.”