For the Seventh Prince, turning eighteen was a crucial milestone.
Before his eighteenth birthday, Yu Jin had essentially been left to grow up freely. Though he had tutors for both scholarly pursuits and martial arts who would teach him whenever he wished to learn, no one forced him to study anything he disliked, despite his status as a prince.
The nobility and officials maintained a hands-off attitude toward Yu Jin, though they showed basic respect for the prince when meeting him.
They too were waiting for the Seventh Prince to turn eighteen.
The Imperial Astrologer had once said that the Seventh Prince’s birth chart conflicted with the Emperor’s, so father and son could not meet until the prince turned eighteen.
They were waiting to see if the Emperor would remember this son after he turned eighteen.
If remembered, nothing more needed to be said; if forgotten, they could simply continue ignoring him.
But Yu Jin’s unease wasn’t because of this.
His birthday had arrived, yet A’si still hadn’t come!
He was unhappy.
The disgruntled youth shifted his gaze to a corner.
There lay a large dog, eyes half-closed as it panted to stay cool.
His mood soured further.
Surely Er’niu hadn’t deceived him? He’d even been tricked into giving that rascal a bowl of meat bones!
Er’niu seemed to sense something and turned his head, looking innocently at his scowling master.
Yu Jin forcefully suppressed the urge to kick Er’niu flying.
Never mind, he’d raised the dog after all – he wouldn’t stoop to settling scores with a dog!
Just then came a knock at the door. Though the sound was faint when it reached the courtyard, Yu Jin immediately stood up and strode toward the gate.
Long Dan called out behind him: “Master, let this servant get the door!”
Old Wang was already on door duty, so why was the master so eager?
Oh, could it be Miss Jiang?
“No need.” Yu Jin replied to Long Dan, his voice barely concealing his excitement.
The gossip flames in Long Dan’s eyes blazed up.
He’d guessed right!
My, my, Miss Jiang coming to visit the master on his birthday – could the master’s happy occasion be approaching?
Yu Jin hurried impatiently to the door and eagerly pulled it open before Old Wang could react. The smile on his face instantly froze.
Outside stood a tall, handsome young man in his twenties, with two impressive servants behind him.
After a brief silence, Yu Jin called out flatly: “Fourth Brother.”
The visitor was Prince Qi, Emperor Jingming’s fourth son, born to the same mother as Yu Jin – Worthy Consort.
The two brothers, one inside the gate and one outside bore some resemblance in their exceptional good looks. However, Prince Qi was a young man in his prime, carrying himself with the nobility of one accustomed to privilege, while Yu Jin still retained a youth’s cold pride and rebelliousness.
The Fourth Prince smiled: “Did Seventh Brother think it was someone else?”
His seventh brother had never shown such enthusiasm toward him.
Yu Jin’s expression had already returned to normal as he said coolly: “What brings Fourth Brother here?”
The Fourth Prince gestured at the entrance: “Is Seventh Brother not going to invite me in to talk?”
Yu Jin stepped aside to let the Fourth Prince enter.
The Fourth Prince surveyed the courtyard.
The yard was small but neat, with a tall silk tree shading half the sky above, and a large dog lying in the corner.
While peaceful and tranquil, to the Fourth Prince, it seemed too humble.
The Fourth Prince sighed: “Seventh Brother, you refused to stay at my residence and insisted on living here alone—”
“How could I disturb Fourth Brother and Sister-in-law’s peace?” Yu Jin replied tepidly.
“What kind of talk is that?” The Fourth Prince smiled, unbothered, and patted Yu Jin’s shoulder. “Seventh Brother, while you usually don’t stay with me, today you must come over.”
Yu Jin frowned slightly, not understanding what game his Fourth Brother was playing.
The Fourth Prince looked surprised: “Seventh Brother, surely you haven’t forgotten today is your birthday?”
Yu Jin was stunned.
Of course, he hadn’t forgotten – he’d been hoping A’si would give him a surprise. But why was Fourth Brother concerned about his birthday?
All these years, he’d spent his birthdays alone.
The Fourth Prince grabbed Yu Jin’s wrist: “I’ve invited our other brothers, and they’re all at my residence now. The feast is prepared, we’re just waiting for you.”
Seeing Yu Jin still hadn’t responded, the Fourth Prince simply started pulling him along: “Seventh Brother, in previous years you weren’t in the capital, so we couldn’t celebrate your birthday even if we wanted to. We can’t miss the chance this year.”
Yu Jin thought for a moment and stopped resisting.
Since he’d returned and decided to stay to marry A’si, he would have to integrate into this circle sooner or later.
So, let it begin on his eighteenth birthday.
Seeing Yu Jin no longer resisting, the Fourth Prince smiled slightly: “That’s more like it – how can you always keep to yourself?”
Today was his seventh brother’s eighteenth birthday. While others might ignore it, as his full brother, he would appear uncaring if he overlooked it.
Arranging a birthday celebration for his seventh brother was all benefit and no harm.
If Father Emperor suddenly remembered his seventh brother, this would count as helping in time of need, and if his seventh brother succeeded later, he would remember this brotherly affection and might become a powerful ally.
If Father Emperor had completely forgotten about his seventh brother, he would still gain a reputation for fraternal love – either way, he wouldn’t lose out.
However, his seventh brother did have an odd temperament.
The Fourth Prince sighed inwardly, then curved his lips in a smile.
Among all his brothers, each formidable in their way, having a seventh brother like this was reassuring.
“Seventh Brother, why have you stopped?” The Fourth Prince urged when Yu Jin suddenly halted at the door.
Yu Jin smiled: “It’s nothing, let’s go.”
A’si probably wouldn’t come now…
About half an hour after Yu Jin left with the Fourth Prince, Jiang Si arrived at the crooked jujube tree with A’man.
“Miss, are we going in or not?” A’man asked, holding her forehead.
You’ve been standing here for a quarter of an hour – what exactly do you want to do?
“Go knock on the door,” Jiang Si said, finally making up her mind after pursing her lips.
She hadn’t come because it was his birthday – she was just keeping her promise to Er’niu from a few days ago and happened to be free today.
What if she didn’t come and he took it out on Er’niu? What? Yu Seven isn’t childish enough to vent his frustrations on Er’niu?
Jiang Si twisted her mouth. Don’t joke – that fool was exactly that childish, she knew from experience.
However, if he saw her come today, wouldn’t he misunderstand that she came to celebrate his birthday? He might even decide she cared about him and become even more presumptuous—
While Miss Jiang was still fretting, the courtyard gate creaked open.
Facing the one-eyed doorkeeper, A’man perked up: “Is Young Master Yu home?”
“He’s not—”
“He is!”
The doorkeeper and Long Dan spoke in unison. After speaking, they looked at each other in bewilderment.
A’man was confused: “Well, which is it?”
“Woof!” A large dog pushed past Long Dan with its snout and squeezed out.
A’man instinctively stepped back.
Heavens, she’d experienced this dog’s capabilities before – best not to provoke it!
Er’niu walked past A’man and caught Jiang Si’s skirt in his teeth, pulling her inside.
These foolish humans – what did it matter whether the master was home or not? The important thing was to get her inside first.