Xiao Lian puffed out his cheeks. Though unwilling, he was also happy. That woman was a bit rough with his brother and visited less frequently. After two years, she still hadn’t married his brother, but in other ways, she seemed good. For his brother’s sake, he would call her Miss Jin.

Su Xi sorted through the items sent by Yan Hua Zui, feeling grateful. If she hadn’t been thoughtful, he wouldn’t have noticed winter was coming and needed supplies. She was truly good to them.

At least she was the only person who cared about them. Picking up the clothes sent by Yan Hua Zui, he was worried about her catching a cold during her winter visit and being uncomfortable sleeping. He had planned to go to the market with Xiao Lian for new bedding, but she had already sent these.

Su Xi looked through the clothes, his eyes dimming. They were worn by respectable men. Did she not like his current clothes? He decided to wear respectable men’s clothes from now on.

Xiao Lian, changing the bedding, asked, “Brother, what is the identity of the man from Yan Hua Zui today?”

Su Xi organized the clothes, “He should be a young master from Yan Hua Zui.”

Xiao Lian placed the new bedding on the bed, “Why did he personally come over to say that Miss Jin instructed him to bring you medicine? This never happened before.”

Su Xi stopped and examined the small porcelain bottle in his hand, “I don’t know. These items were definitely sent by Miss Jin.”

Xiao Lian puffed out her cheeks, “Of course they were sent by her. Every time she visits, she makes you cry out so loudly. How could she not send some tonic to nourish your body?”

Su Xi’s face turned hot, and he glared at her, “Xiao Lian, stop talking nonsense.”

Xiao Lian laughed, “I’m not talking nonsense. When she comes at night, you really do cry out very loudly.”

Su Xi’s face heated up, and he took a deep breath, wondering if he had really called out so loudly.

A smile lingered on Xiao Lian’s face before he continued, “I think the person who came to the fireworks tavern today doesn’t look as good as you, brother. You’re still the best-looking.”

That charming appearance flashed in Su Xi’s mind, and his eyes dimmed. The relationship between that man and Miss Jin seemed quite close, and they appeared well-matched.

“Brother, don’t worry. Miss Jin definitely won’t be charmed by him. If she were captivated by his looks, I would never let her come to find you again. What are you doing…”

“Go do men’s work and don’t say such things again,” Su Xi replied, taking the bedding from Xiao Lian.

Xiao Lian shook his head, “I want to help you arrange the bed.”

“I’ll do this myself.”

“Then I’ll go wash your clothes and bedding. They’re all dirty. That woman always leaves them like this,” Xiao Lian frowned.

Su Xi’s face heated up, and he furrowed his brow, “Go do men’s work.”

Pouting, Xiao Lian stole a few glances at Su Xi and couldn’t help but laugh.

His brother rarely looked like this, all because of that bad woman.

Su Xi was both angry and anxious. He could still feel the sensation of being kissed by Jin Yu and, facing his beloved younger brother, he felt embarrassed and unsure how to handle it.

#

The Jin family in Ten Li Town were wealthy landowners, owning brothels, gambling houses, teahouses, taverns, inns, and farmlands. The current head of the Jin family was Miss Jin Yu. People thought she would cause the family’s decline, but unexpectedly, after taking charge, the Jin family’s businesses flourished, and their status as landowners remained stable.

After leaving Ning Xi, Jin Yu wandered through several of the town’s properties before preparing to return home in the afternoon.

She was reluctant to return. Although the house was luxuriously decorated, it felt cold and desolate—lacking family warmth. A wife with someone else in her heart, a sister sent away, herself as the mistress, and some servants like the steward combined to make outsiders envious of the Jin family’s wealth while scornful of their scandal.

Yun Zhengfu wanted to visit his natal home and requested the young lady’s permission. The housekeeper believed the young lady still cared for Yun Zhengfu but was angry about his past with the second young lady, Jin Mo. The housekeeper thought that once the young lady calmed down, he would regain her favor.

Jinyu fell silent. She knew that Yun Zhengfu had married into the Jin family before her rebirth and was aware of the past events. Yun Zhengfu’s wife, Yun Mei, had an affair with Jin Mo, leading to Jin Mo’s expulsion and Yun Mei’s neglect. Jinyu’s rebirth occurred shortly after Yun Mei’s marriage, and she had barely interacted with her since then.

Jinyu replied flatly, “Let him go back to his natal home.”

“Won’t you go with Yun Zhengfu?” the housekeeper asked, recalling the young lady’s fondness for Yun Mei before the incidents.

Jinyu sighed, “No. Prepare to send someone to accompany him.”

The housekeeper hesitated, “It’s been two years since you’ve seen him. Despite his wrongs, he has suffered enough.”

Jinyu frowned, sneering, “What punishment did he receive?”

“The young lady has neglected him for two years, starting from their wedding night. This is a great punishment for a man.”

Jinyu let out a cold laugh, “Zhao Housekeeper, just because I don’t say something doesn’t mean I don’t know. Although Jin Mo has been away these two years, she has been secretly communicating with Yun Mei and conceived a child. You say my neglect is a punishment, but I think he would be glad for my neglect. How is this a punishment?”

The housekeeper was shocked, “Young lady, you… you know?”

“Yes, I know everything. The so-called Yun Zhengfu in the Jin family is probably happily looking at the letter Jin Mo sent this morning. Am I right, Zhao Housekeeper?” Jinyu’s words were sharp.

The housekeeper’s body trembled, “The young lady might be mistaken. Although they correspond, the second young lady and Yun Zhengfu have not secretly conceived a child.”

“Mistaken? Jin Mo is away, so how could she secretly conceive with Yun Mei?”

“Young lady…”

Jinyu abruptly put down her teacup and stood up, her sleeve brushing the table, interrupting the housekeeper, “Didn’t you say that neglecting Yun Mei is a punishment? I’ll go see my Yun Zhengfu now and see if he’s gloating.”

The housekeeper’s heart tightened, and her body stiffened.

Even after Jinyu left the main hall, her body remained tense. Her gaze fell on the spilled tea on the table. Since the incident between Yun Zhengfu and the second young lady, Jinyu appeared to be slowly changing. She first sent Jin Mo away, leading to the concubine’s illness and eventual death. Then she married Yun Zhengfu and neglected him. The subsequent changes grew more pronounced.

Jinyu had been aware of the communication between Yun Zhengfu and the second young lady over the past two years, despite their belief that it was hidden from her. She kept this knowledge to herself, contributing to Yun Zhengfu’s neglect.

As the Jin family’s housekeeper, initially aligned with the second young lady Jin Mo, she witnessed Jinyu’s transformation and her ability to develop and expand the Jin family. The housekeeper admired Jinyu’s talents.

Why would a person change so much? The housekeeper sighed, realizing that past events had profoundly impacted Jinyu.

#

Jinyu walked alone in the gallery. Besides her footsteps and the whistling wind, the silence enveloped her. She was reluctant to return to this home and even less willing to see her husband.