The rain started falling the next day.

He Yan had He Yunsheng take some money to hire craftsmen to repair the dilapidated roof. As spring was drawing to a close and summer approaching, the rainfall would only increase. Among all the rooms in the He family house, only her room had an intact roof. Both He Sui and He Yunsheng’s rooms had copper basins placed around to catch the dripping water. Walking into their rooms was like entering a basin shop.

The roof was quickly repaired with sturdy green-headed tiles. He Yan contemplated replacing the bedding and pillows inside the house, as the worn ones were already leaking cotton.

He Yunsheng stepped into her room and said, “He Yan, come take a look!”

He Yan was puzzled as He Yunsheng pulled out a piece of paper from his chest and said, “Yesterday, I wrote down all the decent academies in the capital. Should we go look at them together today?”

“Now?” He Yan asked, “You want me to go with you?”

He Yunsheng showed a hint of embarrassed anger at being seen through and turned his back, saying, “I’m just letting you know!”

“Oh, alright, I’ll accompany you,” He Yan replied.

Though this youth had a peculiar temperament, he was rather adorable and meant no harm. When He Yan walked into the courtyard, she saw the horse that Xiao Jue had given to He Yunsheng the day before, huddled in a corner. He Yunsheng had even built a simple stable for it.

The He family was too poor to keep horses; they had only raised chickens and ducks in their courtyard. Now, with this enormous creature added, it felt rather strange. The horse was lowering its head to eat grass, and the fodder had been cleaned and arranged neatly – He Yunsheng’s work.

Seeing He Yan examining the horse, He Yunsheng proudly said, “Xiangxiang is beautiful!”

He Yan almost doubted her hearing and asked, “What did you call it?”

“Xiangxiang!” He Yunsheng answered matter-of-factly, “I checked yesterday, she’s a mare. Since she’s with me now, I should give her a new name. Girls would like the name Xiangxiang.”

He Yan: “…Whatever makes you happy.”

She had always told He Yunsheng to study more, but he never listened. If Xiao Jue, being such a particular person, knew that the horse he casually gave away had been given such a name by He Yunsheng, it would surely become the greatest shame in his horse-gifting career.

He Yunsheng didn’t notice anything amiss and, despite trying to hide it, couldn’t contain his happiness. He Yan couldn’t be bothered to correct him.

Since the He family had never owned a horse, they naturally didn’t have a carriage either. Thus, He Yan and He Yunsheng walked under umbrellas in the street. He Sui had gone to the training grounds early in the morning. When He Yan checked that morning, the bruise at the corner of his mouth from the previous night had faded and was barely visible, so she went out without wearing a veil.

Going out directly had its advantages. With her different status now, she had fewer concerns and could carefully observe the capital’s customs. He Yunsheng’s paper listed four academies, all carefully selected. He Yan noticed they all emphasized martial arts.

This was good – judging from He Yunsheng’s behavior, he didn’t seem inclined toward civil service. Indeed, someone who would name a horse “Xiangxiang” clearly wasn’t cut out for that path.

The two walked around, stopping occasionally to buy snacks, and managed to visit all four academies in one day. After discussing with He Yan, He Yunsheng decided on the academy closest to home. This academy had more martial arts instructors and suitable curriculum arrangements. After classes, He Yunsheng could practice weapons at the training grounds. The tuition wasn’t expensive either – one silver tael per year. The money He Yan had won would be enough for several years of study.

Though He Yunsheng didn’t say it, he was delighted. On the way back, he was almost skipping. Passing by a tailor’s shop, He Yan remembered how she had torn He Yunsheng’s clothes that day at Le Tong Manor and said, “I promised to make you new clothes before. Since we’re passing by, there’s no time like the present. Let’s have them made here.”

Most of He Yunsheng’s clothes were hand-me-downs from He Sui, patched up and worn for three years, with very few new pieces. He had never been to such a fine tailor’s shop and hesitated, saying, “Never mind, I can wear anything.”

“You’ll be mocked at the academy if you don’t dress well,” He Yan pulled him inside. The tailor was an elderly man with a kind smile who asked, “Is it the young lady or the young master getting clothes made?”

“For him,” He Yan pointed at He Yunsheng. “Two sets each for spring and winter, preferably long robes with collars. Make them handsome, suitable for a young man like him. The colors should be neither too dark nor too light, with simple patterns.”

The old tailor smiled and said, “Very well.”

“Aren’t you getting any?” He Yunsheng jumped up in surprise, “I don’t need that many, it’s too much.”

He Yan pushed him back into the chair, “Your sister has more clothes than she can wear, how can you compare them with me? You’re so handsome, wouldn’t it be a waste of that face if you don’t dress well?”

He Yunsheng’s face turned bright red: “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Hearing this, the old tailor’s smile grew warmer: “Young master, your sister truly loves you.”

Love? He Yunsheng was somewhat dazed. He hadn’t expected to joke around with He Yan like this, like ordinary siblings. But… she had indeed helped him a lot. She wouldn’t spend money on clothes for herself, yet she was making so many for him, knowing that He Yan was the one who loved dressing up the most.

He Yan was unaware of He Yunsheng’s mixed feelings. She simply couldn’t get used to Elder Miss He’s clothes. Elder Miss He’s clothes were coquettish and gorgeous, with complex and dragging styles. She would trip over the hem after walking just a few steps, and sometimes accidentally catch the gauze edges. He Yan wore them in despair.

Even when she was the eldest daughter-in-law in the Xu family, her clothes were as simple and elegant as possible. Therefore, Elder Miss He’s clothes were completely unsuitable for her, let alone for practicing martial arts. She thought about having the tailor make two sets of men’s training clothes, but she couldn’t do it in front of He Yunsheng, or she’d have endless explaining to do. She’d have to do it secretly when He Yunsheng wasn’t around.

While the tailor was measuring He Yunsheng, He Yan casually walked around looking at fabrics, thinking about picking out one or two pieces for He Yunsheng. Just then, someone suddenly called her name.

“He Yan?”

He Yan turned to look.

The person calling her was a young gentleman dressed in extremely luxurious clothes. His appearance was rather refined, though there were dark circles under his eyes, and his gaze was unfocused, making him appear somewhat lacking in spirit. He had several servants following behind him. Seeing He Yan turn to look, his eyes lit up, and he suddenly stepped forward to grab He Yan’s hand.

He Yan shifted to one side, avoiding his grasp.

It seemed Elder Miss He was quite well-known in the capital. He Yan inwardly complained about how there were acquaintances everywhere she went – first Wang Jiugui, and now this person.

Seeing He Yan avoid his hand, the young gentleman paused, then immediately showed a hurt expression. Clutching his chest, he said, “Are you… still angry with me?”

What did he mean?

While He Yan was still confused, that bull-like youth had already rushed out like a whirlwind, standing in front of He Yan.

“Fan Cheng, you dare to show up!”

Fan?

He Yan suddenly understood. So this was the legendary “Young Master Fan,” Elder Miss He’s unfaithful man.