Yun Ye’s mouth held a pastry Xiao Ya had stuffed in, his face full of smiles as he allowed his aunts to remove the armor from his body. Grandmother wiped her tears and kept saying he’d become darker and thinner. Holding his hand, she looked at the marks left by frostbite, feeling so distressed she nearly fainted. Without even thinking, one knew what suffering the grandson had endured in the frozen wasteland, what hardships he’d eaten. Where was this the suffering a pampered and spoiled marquis should endure?
It was bath time again, but this time Yun Ye drove everyone out, not permitting them in the room. He was already an adult—still having his aunts bathe him would make others laugh him to death. Grandmother insisted on looking Yun Ye over from head to toe. Seeing that he truly hadn’t been injured, only then did she let Yun Ye go, closing the door with a smile as she left.
Her grandson had become an adult—it was time to arrange his marriage. This child Xinyue still hadn’t let down her hair and still wore a married woman’s hairstyle. Although there was this custom in Guanzhong, for an unmarried girl, there would always be some gossips wagging their tongues behind her back—weren’t they afraid their tongues would rot off?
Just as she was thinking this, Xinyue came running hurriedly. Looking at the breathless Xinyue, Old Madam felt comfortable no matter how she looked at her. If this pair of youngsters became a family, how sweet that would be. It wasn’t even March yet—if the wedding arrangements could be made quickly, perhaps next year she could hold a great-great-grandson. Thinking of this, Old Madam looked at her grandson’s room door and said to Xinyue who was performing a courtesy to her: “Don’t rush, don’t rush. He just returned and is bathing. You know your lord’s temperament—he doesn’t like using maidservants. Two years ago, his aunt still bathed him. This year he’s grown up and even drove this old woman out. I see his hands aren’t very convenient. You go in and help him. In the whole family, only you are suitable.”
Xinyue’s face flushed red and she refused to enter, but was pushed in by Old Madam, who even closed the door from outside. Walking away with a smile, she muttered to herself: “Her hair is already coiled up—she’s long been a person of our Yun family. Now she’s getting shy? Our Yun family only has this one sprout remaining. Always being shy—when will this old woman get to hold a great-great-grandson? Today’s children just don’t understand their elders’ hearts at all.”
Seeing Steward Aunt standing in the courtyard secretly laughing, her anger rose. Not one of them useful. She’d told them to find men and remarry, but not one wanted to marry. The two older aunts were fine, but her niece was only thirty years old—why couldn’t she remarry? One by one, good for nothing, all waiting for her poor grandson to support them in old age. Once people grew accustomed to wealthy days, making them return to small households to live tight lives was no different from killing them. Forget it—her grandson had great abilities anyway, so supporting a few freeloaders was nothing.
“Guard the door well. If any unrelated people come in, break their legs.” Having assigned tasks to Steward Aunt, only then did she totter back to her room to rest, preparing to attend the evening banquet.
Yun Ye was burying his head in the water, diving. He counted a full hundred before lifting his head out of the water. As soon as he raised his head, he saw a face smiling like a flower looking at him. Xinyue? How was this possible? Yun Ye thought his long dive had caused oxygen deprivation to his brain, creating hallucinations. Opening his mouth, he spat out a mouthful of water, preparing to scatter the illusion.
Who knew this would provoke a delicate cry? Yun Ye was greatly shocked. He rubbed his eyes several times before confirming that the person wiping water stains from her face was indeed Xinyue. Humans are strange creatures—when bathing, whoever has clothes on possesses absolute advantage.
Yun Ye involuntarily shrank his body downward and even covered the important parts with the cypress branches used to ward off evil in the bathwater.
“How did you get here? I’m bathing. I thought it was a hallucination, so…” He actually prepared to explain, not knowing that such matters became darker the more one explained. Better not to explain.
“Hmph, hmph, hmph.” Xinyue emitted a series of sinister laughs. She’d been very shy just now, not knowing how to face this situation, but Yun Ye’s mouthful of water had awakened her. That’s right—this is my man. What am I shy about? She raised her head, her eyes staring fixedly at Yun Ye, making his eyes dart around to shift his gaze.
“I came to help you bathe. Grandmother said so.” Having said this, she picked up the loofah sponge, dipped it in water, and gently rubbed his shoulders and back.
A pair of jade-white small hands continuously caressed his shoulders and back. Even having been a youth for two lifetimes, Yun Ye had no resistance. The room was very hot—Grandmother had long ago had people place two charcoal braziers in the room. His breathing gradually became heavy. Yun Ye pressed down on the hand wiping his shoulders and back, holding it in his palm, slowly placing Xinyue’s hand on his chest, letting her feel his violent heartbeat.
Xinyue seemed to have her spine instantly drawn out, softly leaning against Yun Ye’s back. Her sweet breath blew on Yun Ye’s neck, somewhat scorching. He hadn’t expected this girl to be so sensitive. With a beauty at his back, how could Yun Ye be polite? He turned around and tightly embraced the soft-bodied Xinyue, found that moist little mouth, and kissed down. His hands had long ago become extremely skilled at seeking secrets and exploring wonders at Xinyue’s chest…
Aunt Yun heard Xinyue’s delicate cry and thought the good deed was accomplished. Just as she was celebrating, she discovered Master Yushan had arrived in the back courtyard. The Yun family had almost no forbidden areas for the four old masters—they’d long been familiar with every path. Master Yushan had also been extremely worried about Yun Ye these past six months. Thinking his granddaughter might become a waiting widow, he’d greatly regretted listening to Li Gang’s words and betrothing Xinyue to Yun Ye early. Now hearing that Yun Ye had returned safely, he naturally breathed a great sigh of relief. Not coming to see with his own eyes would truly be worrying.
“Aunt Yun, where is your nephew? Oh right, where did Little Yue go? Why haven’t I seen her?” Master Yushan loudly asked Aunt Yun.
Aunt Yun was greatly alarmed. How could she dare tell him Xinyue was currently in her nephew’s room? Unable to find an excuse for the moment, she stammered without speaking.
“I heard this boy is bathing. I’ll take a look and leave.” So saying, he pushed open the room door.
Seeing Yun Ye bathing, he looked him up and down a few times and said to Yun Ye: “Boy, you weren’t injured, were you?”
“Many thanks for Master Yushan’s concern. This humble one is perfectly well.” Yun Ye splashed water and said to Master Yushan.
“Mm, then you bathe first. After you’re done washing, we’ll have a good talk.” Having said this, he closed the door and left with his hands behind his back. Aunt Yun was greatly puzzled. Could it be Master Yushan was also anxious beyond endurance about his own granddaughter’s marriage? Seeing such a scene, he could remain calm and composed? Countless questions rose in her heart, but it wasn’t proper to open the door and look, so she could only suppress her doubts in her heart.
Yun Ye didn’t see Xinyue move for a long time. Looking down, that girl had buried her head in the water and still wouldn’t emerge. Afraid she’d suffocate herself, he quickly pulled her out. He saw Xinyue half-closing her eyes, seemingly overcome with shame. Small streams of water slid down from that pair of white rabbits on her chest. Yun Ye’s vision swam with dizziness. He buried his head in Xinyue’s chest, desperately inhaling that orchid-like, musk-like faint fragrance on her body. His hands were already preparing to remove Xinyue’s undergarment to eliminate the last shackle on her body.
But Xinyue pressed down on Yun Ye’s demonic hand, not permitting it to advance another inch. She leaned her body in Yun Ye’s embrace for a moment of tenderness, then jumped out of the wooden tub. She grabbed the clothes from behind the tub and hurriedly dressed. Having put on her clothes and not caring about her damp hair, she lightly kissed Yun Ye’s cheek and fled. This left poor Yun Ye alone, looking at his little brother standing at attention and sighing to the heavens: “Why is it like this?”
The Yun family opened a great banquet to celebrate the household master’s victorious return. The feast had been prepared from morning until afternoon. All the women of Yun Manor participated in preparing the banquet. Madam Cheng and Madam Niu from Chang’an City naturally arrived at Yun Manor early. The two madams of the Yuchi family also came to celebrate with old Duke Yuchi. From Li Jing and Li Ji’s households, sons and nephews all came. Li Chengqian rode a fine horse at top speed to rush over.
The academy emptied out entirely. Li Gang arrived together with Master Lishi who’d just rushed back from home. Master Yuanzhang and Zhao Yanling came together sitting in an ox cart swaying to the Yun household, saying they’d heard Marquis Yun had returned and hadn’t eaten lunch, urging them to quickly start the feast. The Gongshu family head put on great airs—the Yun family needed to specially arrange a carriage to fetch him, and it had to be a double-horse family head’s carriage. When he arrived, he didn’t ask whether his son Gongshu Jia was alive but kept sidling up to old Yuchi.
Old Madam looked at Xinyue, who was all smiles and laughter among the women’s group like a butterfly flitting through flowers. She sighed deeply. How was there not even a bit of inconvenience? With the great-great-grandson gone, Old Madam directed all her resentment at Master Yushan. Seeing Master Yushan, her nose wasn’t a nose and her eyes weren’t eyes, making the old master rack his brains unable to figure out where he’d offended this old woman to make her treat him this way.
The banquet stretched from the reception hall all the way outside to the courtyard, with a long string arranged even on the road. Old Qian was busy with the large tent. Old Zhuang was busy maintaining order. Meng Youtong and Duan Meng welcomed guests at the door. Li Tai and Li Ke were examining the things Yun Ye had brought back, finally giving a unanimous assessment—except for money, this fellow hadn’t brought back a single useful thing. Li Chengqian sat in a rocking chair constantly holding two transparent crystals before his eyes to compare. He’d always wanted a pair of those things hanging on Cheng the Demon’s face. He didn’t know if Ye’er still had this kind of stone. Old Cheng’s were black—if he got a red pair, wouldn’t that put him one up on Cheng? He most couldn’t stand Old Cheng’s stinking smug attitude wearing sunglasses and showing off everywhere. Last time when Father Emperor wanted to look, he wouldn’t permit it, saying it was some immortal family treasure that couldn’t be shown to outsiders, saying it would disperse the immortal qi. This angered Father Emperor so much he threw his chopsticks.
Li Tai didn’t know where he’d fished out a magnifying glass and habitually placed it before his eyes to look. This frightened Li Ke so much that the jade in his hand dropped on his instep, making him cry out in pain. For no other reason than a big-eyed monster had appeared before his eyes.
Having discovered a new continent, how could Li Tai care about Third Brother’s miserable state? He kept placing the magnifying glass over different things, watching these objects continuously magnify before his eyes. The surprised exclamations from his mouth never stopped.
Li Chengqian discovered the three brothers now got along very peacefully and comfortably. Setting aside those palace consorts’ open strife and veiled struggles, this kind of brotherly affection made him somewhat intoxicated. If it could continue like this, Li Chengqian didn’t care at all how much fief Father Emperor gave Fourth Brother.
In formal occasions, the three brothers’ status was most noble, so naturally they had to wait until last to take their seats. Placing the three of them together was Yun Ye’s idea. He wanted to see whether the three brothers had any hope of reconciliation. If so, he hoped to clamp shackles on them when the rifts first appeared.
Pushing open the door, he saw the three brothers each busy with their own affairs—one looking for crystals, one calculating money, and one planning to pluck a hair from his third brother’s head to carefully observe what differences hair had under magnification compared to what one normally saw.