Ten years ago, when my brother was fifteen, our parents returned to their hometown, leaving us siblings at home, with him tasked to care for us. On his way back after seeing off our parents, he encountered a homeless child who was searching for relatives in Yanfeng. Without hesitation, he gave away all the money he had to this child, causing us to freeload meals for a month.
As a result, my brother gained a reputation for being foolish, and my sister and I were dissatisfied, believing he had given our living expenses to a scammer. The child refused my brother’s help to find his relatives and promised to return the money after finding his family but vanished without a trace.
However, it wasn’t until today that I learned this child was not a scammer. She was Xue Miaoyin.
Xue Miaoyin recalled the past with emotion. “Back then, my hometown was ravaged by an epidemic, and my parents and sister died from the disease. Before her death, my mother instructed my uncle to take me to Yanfeng to find my distant aunt.”
Unbeknownst to her, her uncle also fell ill and died on the way, leaving Miaoyin to reach Yanfeng by begging.
For a young girl, the journey was unimaginably difficult. She encountered ill-intentioned people, some attempting to kidnap her to sell her to a brothel or as a servant. She narrowly escaped, gradually understanding the cruelty of human nature.
To protect herself, she covered her face with soot, wore ragged clothes, and disguised herself as a dirty, abandoned street child, finally reaching the outskirts of Yanfeng.
She was about to faint from hunger when my brother rescued her.
In her words, my brother was like a “god descending to earth.” Not only did he give her food, but he also kindly asked why she had collapsed there. Upon learning she was searching for relatives, he offered to help her find them. Wary of strangers and fearing he might have hidden motives, she refused his offer. Unexpectedly, he pulled out all the money he had and gave it to her.
Xue Miaoyin thought she had met a compassionate deity.
Especially for her, who had seen the worst of human nature and suffered countless cold stares, my brother’s actions were shocking, leaving her stunned for a long time. By the time she came to her senses to ask for his name and address, he had vanished.
Later, she found her distant aunt in Yanfeng city but felt uncomfortable asking for help to find her benefactor. Drawing his appearance from memory, she spent ten years searching in Yanfeng city but never saw him again.
Miaoyin thought she would never repay her benefactor’s kindness or see that gentle young man again, but unexpectedly, she encountered him not long ago. Her carriage had gotten stuck in the mud, and a passing man voluntarily stepped forward to help. Dressed in new clothes, he didn’t mind getting muddy to assist.
The man’s appearance gradually matched her memory of her benefactor. However, ten years had passed, and appearances could change. Always cautious, Miaoyin concocted a story about a sick family member needing money to verify his identity.
Just like ten years ago, he unhesitatingly pulled out his purse. The moment Xue Miaoyin took the purse, she was certain she had found him. Just as she was about to return it and explain everything, my brother’s two sisters pulled him away.
Miaoyin became anxious and chased after him, but quickly lost him in the crowded street. Fortunately, his name was embroidered on the purse, and some passersby knew him, allowing her to learn his identity. Now informed, she contemplated how to approach him, just as her aunt discussed marriage with her.
This was the first time she considered whom she might marry. After much thought, she decided to pursue her benefactor instead of marrying idle young masters. She asked her aunt to help her enter the Hanlin Academy, beginning her interaction with my brother. What started as gratitude gradually turned into genuine love.
I was filled with mixed emotions, realizing my brother’s multiple failed courtships were fated. I had thought Miaoyin was disguised as a man to pursue a career, but she was actually seeking a husband—her determination was even more impressive than I imagined.
“So what do you plan to do now?” I began to see her as my future sister-in-law. “Are you still angry with my brother? It was my bad idea that he took you to the Chu Women’s Hall…”
Her expression softened. “I know he’s not that kind of person. Even if I’m angry, it’s because he keeps everything inside.”
“He still thinks you’re a man!” I felt delighted.
“I can see he’s already falling for you, though he doesn’t realize it himself. His slow nature needs some polishing.”
She looked at me deeply. “Thank you, A Yao. I was worried that my disguise in the Hanlin Academy might cause misunderstandings…”
“Don’t worry. My family is open-minded. You’ll understand later.” As long as my brother wasn’t in love with a man, our parents would wholeheartedly approve, especially of such a loyal and righteous girl.
Xue Miaoyin laughed, revealing two charming dimples. The previous cold demeanor melted away with this smile, making me like her immediately.
We chatted for a while longer, agreeing to keep in touch and share information, becoming allies in conquering my brother’s heart.
Suddenly, the law of nemesis took effect as Princess Seven, Xia Zhiqian, walked into the tea house.
Xia Zhiqian looked haggard, her eyes red as if she had been crying. Besides her maids, there was a girl in green with a cloud-like hairstyle, elegant and beautiful. Xia Zhiqian whispered to her, looking like close friends.
This girl was Su Hui, someone I had painted before, captured in my “Twilight Beauties” painting.
Unexpectedly, while Xia Zhiqian hated me to the core, she paradoxically viewed Su Hui, her romantic rival, as a good friend.
Xue Miaoyin noticed my strange expression and softly exclaimed, “Princess Seven?”
Xia Zhiqian apparently noticed our gaze and looked towards our corner. I lowered my head, covering my face with my sleeve while pretending to drink tea, hoping she wouldn’t recognize me. Soon, Xia Zhiqian’s voice sounded near us.
“Miss Xue? Why are you dressed like this?”
“No matter,” she laughed carelessly. “She can’t trouble me. Besides, she’ll be married to Xiliang soon, so what is there to fear?”
I grew to like this future sister-in-law more and more, smart and protective, just like someone from my family. “Actually, what I’m most worried about isn’t the Seventh Princess, but rather Su Hui by her side,” I sighed, voicing my concerns.
Su Hui, the daughter of Minister of Rites Su Quan, was renowned for her beauty and elegance. Among the noble ladies of Yanfeng City, she was reportedly the most prominent candidate to be a consort of the Eastern Palace. Had it not been for the alliance between Da Qi and Nanrui, with Nanrui selecting a princess as the main wife of the Eastern Palace, she might have already become the new consort.
Of course, since that princess had escaped on her wedding night, she still hoped to become the consort of the Eastern Palace. However, I feared she desired more to be an honorable wife.
Su Hui was neither as naive as Song Sitian nor as volatile as the Seventh Princess. She was well-read, with elegant small-script calligraphy highly praised by Yanfeng’s literati. She maintained an image of gentle refinement, understanding social boundaries perfectly, which won her many admirers. Even the young master from the Minister of War’s household considered her a confidante, though she remained tantalizingly distant.
Having such a beloved figure harbor feelings for my husband made me feel immense pressure. Though she hadn’t been overtly aggressive, she seemed like a hidden crisis, ready to erupt at any moment.
