She knew that the Chancellor’s wife had no choice but to let her marry into the household — so what of it? The others were too proud to lower themselves to such a match, but for her, this was a chance to turn her fate around.

She had always known her eldest sister to be soft-hearted. Since she was marrying “in her sister’s place,” her sister would always feel guilty toward her — and she intended to leverage that guilt to secure every advantage she could.

Once she married into the Marquis’s household, if she could bear a child, her son would be the legitimate firstborn — the heir to the Marquis’s estate.

In time, her child would inherit the Marquis’s title.

“Shiyu.” Yan Shiyao hesitated, struggling for words.

Yan Shiyu clasped her hand, her voice choked with emotion. “Eldest Sister, since you and Second Sister refuse to marry, it falls to Shiyu — and Shiyu does not wish to either.”

Yan Shiyu shook her head, weeping, tears streaming freely down her face.

Yan Shiyao’s heart clenched. “Shiyu, Mother has already added your name to the betrothal documents. If you do not marry—”

“Eldest Sister, why does no one care for Shiyu’s wishes?” Yan Shiyu’s face was a picture of wounded feeling as her tears fell without cease.

Yan Shiyao bit her lip and forced the words out with difficulty. “Shiyu, this is Mother’s decision.”

“Eldest Sister, what is Shiyu to do?” Tears streaked down Yan Shiyu’s cheeks; her distress was boundless.

Yan Shiyao turned to look at Qi Qingchen, brow furrowed tightly. “Qing-gege, is there nothing you can do?”

Qi Qingchen squinted against the glare of the sun. “Yaoyao, there is nothing to be done.”

Yan Shiyu curled her lips in quiet contempt. Nothing to be done? He simply had no wish to involve himself.

That suited her well enough — she had no desire for his involvement either.

“Shiyu, I am sorry. Eldest Sister has no solution either.” Yan Shiyao smiled bitterly.

“Eldest Sister, Shiyu’s birth mother is no longer with us. There is no one to prepare a dowry on Shiyu’s behalf. If Shiyu goes to the Marquis’s household without one, will the young Marquis look down on her? Will others think less of her?”

“Do not worry. Mother will see to it.” Yan Shiyao reached out and gently wiped the tears from the corner of her eye with her fingertip.

Yan Shiyu shook her head. “She will not.”

What she wanted was to marry into the Marquis’s household with the full grandeur befitting the legitimate daughter of the Chancellor’s estate.

“Eldest Sister will speak with Mother. You will not be made to look small in the young Marquis’s eyes.” Yan Shiyao picked up a handkerchief and dabbed away the tears sliding down her cheeks one by one.

Yan Shiyu sniffled, a flicker of satisfaction passing through her eyes. She dipped into a curtsy, her voice soft and demure. “Many thanks, Eldest Sister. Your sister shall not trouble you further.”

Her purpose was achieved. There was no reason to linger.

Yan Shiyao nodded and watched Yan Shiyu take her leave.

“Yaoyao, that sister of yours is not as simple as she appears.” Qi Qingchen’s brow creased.

“Qing-gege, I will not have you speak ill of her.”

Qi Qingchen sighed. “Yaoyao, it is plain to see that she—”

“Qing-gege, in the end, Shiyu is the one being wronged in all of this. It is only natural that she would ask for something in return.” Yan Shiyao lowered her gaze, concealing the turmoil in her eyes.

Qi Qingchen pressed his lips together, swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue, and said nothing.

Elsewhere, Yan Yunning cradled a stack of gift boxes and kicked open the door to Xuan Yanyu’s chamber with her foot.

Xuan Yanyu lifted his eyes. He saw only a towering pile of boxes concealing the girl’s delicate face entirely.

He tossed the scroll he had been reading aside and relieved her of the stack, setting it down on the table.

Yan Yunning shook out her aching arms.

Xuan Yanyu poured a cup of water and offered it to her.

Yan Yunning took the teacup and smiled. “There — your thank-you gift. Sincere enough for you?”

Xuan Yanyu raised an eyebrow, a clear glint of amusement in his eyes. “You have money now?”

“Well — Father bought them for me.”

Whatever she wanted, he would buy.

Yan Yunning caught sight of the pastry she had eaten once before in Xuan Yanyu’s room — the one that had been so delicious — and she swallowed. That time she had taken one, and he had said, “Who gave you permission to eat that?”

Xuan Yanyu watched her with interest. “Want some?”

Yan Yunning sipped her tea in small, prim mouthfuls, and replied with great dignity, “I do not want any.”

The man rested one hand against his cheek, his gaze resting on her, his tone unhurried and lazy. “Oh? I had been thinking that someone liked them — I bought them especially for her.”

Yan Yunning’s eyes lit up with startling brightness. She asked with a smile, “You bought them for me?”

“No.” Xuan Yanyu curved his lips upward, and a low, soft laugh rose from his throat.

“Xuan Yanyu — they were bought for me.” Yan Yunning set down her teacup, picked up a pastry, and took a bite.

She held the pastry in her hand, and Xuan Yanyu noticed that the skin on her palm was scraped raw. His previously relaxed expression tightened at once. “What happened to your hand?”

Yan Yunning switched the pastry to her other hand and spread the injured one open, smiling as she said, “It is nothing — it is nearly healed already.”

Xuan Yanyu rose from his seat, rummaged through the cabinet, and produced a wound powder. He took hold of Yan Yunning’s hand, sprinkled the powder across her palm, and blew on it gently.

Yan Yunning nibbled on her pastry and looked down at the man holding her hand, his fingertips tracing slow circles across her palm. A faint flutter stirred in her chest.

“Second Sister, Qiuci said you were at Young Master Xuan’s — are you in there?” A gentle, soft voice came from beyond the door.

“I am.” Yan Yunning swallowed the piece of pastry and reached for another from the plate.

She was calling her Second Sister?

Who was it?

She had not yet learned all the faces in the Chancellor’s household.

Yan Shiyu pushed open the door and entered. She gave a slight bow, her bearing poised and composed. “Shiyu pays her respects to Second Sister and to Young Master Xuan.”

Yan Yunning gave a small nod. “Find somewhere to sit.”

Yan Shiyu’s gaze fell upon Xuan Yanyu’s hand holding Yan Yunning’s, and she smiled without a sound.

In the past, her father had thought very highly of Xuan Yanyu. Eager to make her mark, she had positioned herself on his path more than once — only to find that before she could draw close, he would look at her with cold, empty eyes while idly playing with a dagger in his hand. Had she so much as touched him back then, that blade would have truly found its mark in her.

And yet now he had the patience to apply medicine for someone. How very advantageous it was to be a legitimate daughter.

“Second Sister, Shiyu came today to ask you to speak with Mother on Shiyu’s behalf — Shiyu does not wish to marry the young Marquis.” Yan Shiyu bit her lip.

She intended to claim her benefits twice over.

“Me?” Yan Yunning raised an eyebrow. “Do you not know I have only just come out of the ancestral hall?”

Yan Shiyu was taken aback and murmured, “Second Sister, whatever shall be done?”

“Go to Eldest Sister.”

Yan Shiyu shook her head with a dejected air, her voice heavy with disappointment. “Eldest Sister said there is no way.”

Yan Yunning gave a light cough. “I will go speak with Eldest Sister shortly and think it over together.”

She glanced down at the man who was still applying medicine to her hand, her brow furrowing. She had already eaten two pieces of pastry — why was he still at it? Why was he so slow?

“Second Sister, the betrothal documents already bear my name. Is there still a way to—”

“Go outside to cry.” Xuan Yanyu’s voice was impatient.

Yan Shiyu blinked. The mood she had carefully cultivated was shattered by his interruption.

Go outside to cry? How was she to achieve her purpose then?

“That is to say — do you absolutely have to cry while you say it?” Yan Yunning pressed her lips together.

She had no wish to step outside and listen to her either.

Yan Shiyu: “…”

She steadied the expression threatening to collapse on her face.

“Second Sister, if there truly is no way out, could you perhaps speak with Father — so that my dowry will not make the Marquis’s household look down on me?” Yan Shiyu lowered her head, her gaze flickering.

“Dowry?” The corner of Yan Yunning’s eye twitched. “You are leaving as a legitimate daughter of the Chancellor’s estate. How could your dowry possibly draw contempt from anyone?”