At the Ye manor gates, two handsome youths descended from the carriage. The first youth glanced at the steward waiting to receive them, displeasure flashing in his eyes. He clicked his tongue and turned back to speak to those still in the carriage with a smile: “It seems Eldest Brother’s reputation isn’t enough – no one’s here to receive us.” The youth following him, older by about two years, gave him a sidelong glance: “Did Eldest Brother bring you along to put on airs?” The youth made an unbothered face at his brother: “Who cares! Young master is here to see Sister Li!”

“Xu Qingyan, mind your manners,” someone in the carriage spoke coolly.

Xu Qingyan winked at his brother, complaining softly, “Second Brother is even fiercer than Eldest Brother.”

Xu Qingbai rolled his eyes at him – if you know he’s fierce, why do you keep provoking him?

The Ye manor’s head steward looked helplessly at the two young masters of the Xu family who were chatting among themselves, clearly treating his earlier invitation to enter as mere background noise, showing no intention of entering. Not to mention those still unseen in the carriage. As he hesitated whether to extend another invitation, Ye Li’s somewhat excited voice came from behind the main gate: “Is that Fourth Cousin and Fifth Brother?”

Xu Qingbai turned to look at the young woman in green hurrying out. His gaze shifted from initial unfamiliarity to warmth as Ye Li approached: “Li’er, I’m Fourth Brother. Do you remember?” Ye Li nodded slightly. Among the five Xu sons, Xu Qingbai was closest to her in age, only a year older. Thus he had been closest to her in childhood – when she lived at the Xu residence, they had studied and played together. “Fourth Brother…”

“Hehe, Sister Li, I’m Qingyan!” Xu Qingyan eagerly moved forward.

Looking at the handsome youth before her, Ye Li smiled: “Fifth Brother has grown up, looking just like Elder Aunt. When you left the capital, Fifth Brother was still a little child.” Xu Qingyan’s handsome face immediately fell: “Sister Li is bullying me.”

“Where are Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and… Third Brother?”

The carriage curtain was suddenly lifted as Xu Qingfeng jumped down, laughing: “Fortunately Li’er still remembers Third Brother, or I’d have been jealous.”

Two young men emerged from the carriage – the Xu family’s eldest son Xu Qingchen, acclaimed as the realm’s foremost young scholar, and second son Xu Qingze.

“Li’er.” Xu Qingchen in his white robes, his elegant features showing a faint smile upon seeing Ye Li. Unlike Xu Qingchen’s refined grace, the nineteen-year-old Xu Qingze bore a more solemn air, giving people a cold and distant impression. Yet Ye Li could still feel the warmth in his gaze upon her.

“Eldest Brother, Second Brother,” Ye Li called softly, her eyes inexplicably stinging. A strange feeling of uncertainty surrounded the usually composed Ye Li. Though the Ye family had many sisters, Ye Li had always felt alone. But suddenly having so many brothers around felt like returning to the time before her mother’s death, when her uncle and grandfather were still in the capital. It felt even more like returning to that endlessly squabbling yet warm family of her previous life.

Xu Qingchen raised his hand to smooth the hair by Ye Li’s ear, sighing softly: “Have these years been hard on Li’er?”

Ye Li shook her head repeatedly, but something seemed to catch in her throat, preventing her from speaking.

“Third Sister, it’s too discourteous to keep our cousins standing at the gate. Let’s quickly invite them inside.” Ye Ying approached with measured steps, speaking gently to Ye Li before gracefully curtsying to Xu Qingchen: “Ying’er greets Cousin Qingchen.” To the side, Xu Qingfeng rubbed his nose and moved behind his second brother. He had visited the Ye manor countless times, yet the usually haughty Ye Ying had never been so polite to him.

Ye Ying’s expression changed slightly, forcing a smile. Ye Li quickly calmed her inner turbulence and smiled at Xu Qingchen: “Li’er has been discourteous. Eldest Brother, let’s go in. Father and Grandmother are waiting for you cousins and Fifth Brother.” Xu Qingchen nodded, and beside him Xu Qingze waved his hand, prompting the waiting Xu family servants to retrieve gifts from the rear carriage and respectfully follow their masters toward the manor gate.

Walking beside Xu Qingchen and Xu Qingze, Ye Li asked softly: “Eldest Brother, how are Uncle and Aunt?”

Xu Qingchen nodded and smiled: “Mother remained in Yunzhou. Father is well, just somewhat fatigued from traveling. He’ll be fine after some rest.”

“When Uncle and cousins arrived, why didn’t you let Li’er know so I could welcome you?” Ye Li complained quietly.

Walking behind them, Xu Qingfeng laughed: “That’s not my fault! Uncle sent word ahead forbidding anyone from coming to receive us. Father only learned they’d moved into the capital residence after Uncle and Eldest Brother had already settled in. He was furious!” Ye Li, knowing her uncle’s character disliked such formal ceremonies, smiled without taking offense: “Then I’ll pay my respects to Uncle tomorrow. Are Nurse Lin and Nurse Wei well?”

“They’re both well. Nurse Lin and Nurse Wei were most loyal to your mother. Their families are willing to follow you to the Ding Kingdom Manor, so Grandfather had their families come along,” Xu Qingze said.

Ye Li nodded, saying nothing polite, but feeling more guilty toward her grandfather. She had never been able to attend to him personally, yet at his age, he still worried for her.

Xu Qingchen looked down at her, raising his hand to pat her shoulder gently: “Don’t think too much. As long as you live well, Grandfather will be happy.”

“I understand,” Ye Li said.

Ye Lin and Ye Shan watched the handsome young men surrounding Ye Li walk away, then looked at Ye Ying’s dark expression beside them. They exchanged glances before Ye Lin carefully asked Ye Ying: “Fourth Sister… those were… Third Sister’s cousins?” Ye Ying raised her head and glared fiercely at her. The almost unprecedented vicious expression made Ye Lin step back involuntarily, nearly bumping into Ye Shan behind her. Ye Ying gave a cold laugh, looking at her contemptuously: “Give up now. The Xu family would never look at someone like you!” With that, she turned to follow the others, ignoring Ye Lin’s expression.

Ye Lin was stunned by Ye Ying’s words, her pretty young face instantly flushing red. Understanding Ye Ying’s meaning brought both shame and embarrassment. Ye Shan looked at her and shook her head: “She’s in a bad mood – why did you have to provoke her? Let’s hurry, Grandmother will be displeased if we’re late.” Ye Lin hadn’t expected the usually aloof Ye Shan to comfort her. Seeing the others almost out of sight, she hurriedly followed with Ye Shan.

*Rong Le Hall*

“Your juniors and brothers pay respects to Old Madam and… Uncle,” Xu Qingchen stepped forward first to greet Old Madam Ye and Minister Ye, with the others following suit. Old Madam Ye looked at the five young men standing in the hall. Not to mention how distinguished and refined the already renowned Xu Qingchen was – even thirteen-year-old Xu Qingyan showed graceful features and proper bearing. Though unwilling to admit it, she had to acknowledge the Xu family was indeed better at raising children than the Ye family. Old Madam Ye’s eyes flickered before she quickly smiled: “We’re all family, let’s dispense with such formalities. How is your father?”

Xu Qingchen stood tall, answering with elegant composure: “Father is well in all respects, only the journey’s fatigue prevented him from visiting Old Madam – please forgive him.”

Though knowing it was mere courtesy, Old Madam Ye could say nothing more. She only smiled: “The journey was tiring, you should rest well. Rong’er, come greet your cousins.”

Ye Rong stood beside Madam Wang, about to speak when he caught his father’s stern gaze. Only then did he somewhat unwillingly step forward: “Rong’er greets cousins.” Ye Rong was not a calculating person, not even managing surface courtesies well. He disliked Ye Li, naturally extending to her cousins. So even after his father and grandmother’s warnings, he couldn’t completely hide his expression. Even his greeting carried a trace of perfunctory carelessness, making Minister Ye’s face darkened again.

Xu Qingyan pursed his lips and turned away without speaking. As the youngest, it wasn’t his place to speak anyway. However, Xu Qingchen acted as if he hadn’t noticed Ye Rong’s expression, his smile remaining warm and courteous, even taking on additional kindness: “Young Master Ye is too polite. I hear Young Master Ye has quite the literary talent. Qingyan is close to Young Master Ye’s age, though quite mischievous – perhaps you could spend more time together when free.”

Xu Qingyan internally cringed – who wants to spend time with him? Yet he dared not contradict Xu Qingchen’s wishes outwardly. He obediently showed a friendly smile: “Eldest Brother speaks truly. Little brother must learn more from Young Master Ye.”

Xu Qingchen was very satisfied with his brother’s obedience and had people bring forward gifts for Ye Rong and the Ye family members. Ye Rong immediately felt more favorably toward Xu Qingchen. Compared to Xu Qingfeng, who always picked fault with him and occasionally threatened or showed various forms of contempt, Xu Qingchen showed no trace of looking down on him – he was simply too likable.

To the side, Xu Qingyan, forced into friendship, inconspicuously shifted beside Xu Qingbai and secretly nudged his arm, conveying his confused look: How could Eldest Brother like this fool?

Xu Qingbai’s gaze was upright and just: Because he was foolish enough and idiotic enough.

If he weren’t idiotic enough, how could he believe their eldest brother would truly like any Ye family member besides their cousin? That possibility was even lower than the chance of Eldest Brother not making things difficult for Prince Ding!