In the end, we entered the room and had a heart-to-heart talk.
I told him how my elder brother might be heading down the path of cut-sleeve love. He seemed unsurprised, merely smiling faintly, “So it was because of this.”
“I feel guilty,” I sighed. “If not for my terrible idea, my brother wouldn’t have lost such a friend. Perhaps—even his first true love.”
“Have you met this Xue Yin?”
I shook my head. “Have you met him? What kind of person is he?”
“Since he’s your brother’s friend, you might as well find an opportunity to meet him,” An Jin’s smile was somewhat mysterious. “Perhaps after meeting him, your questions will be resolved.”
Chapter Nineteen: Miao Yin’s Past
Because my father had served in the Hanlin Academy for over ten years, I easily found Xue Yin through familiar uncles.
He looked young, with rosy lips and delicate features, but his demeanor was cold as frost and seemed unapproachable. Upon seeing me, he frowned, “What brings madam to seek out Xue?”—even his voice was clear and soft.
I smiled at him. “Young Master Xue? I am Xiao Shishu’s second sister.”
“Oh, it’s Madam An.” His reaction was quick, his expression softening. “May I ask what brings you here?”
“It’s about my elder brother’s matter.
He paused slightly, with a hint of something unusual in his expression.
With many ears around in the Hanlin Academy, we went to a tea house nearby. Xue Yin was still somewhat guarded, subtly sizing me up, seemingly trying to guess my intentions. I briefly mentioned my brother’s recent dejected state, and he lowered his head, saying, “What does this have to do with me?”
However, it wasn’t until today that I learned this homeless child was not the scammer we thought he was. Because she was Xue Miaoyin.
Xue Miaoyin recalled the past with some emotion. “Back then, my hometown was ravaged by an epidemic, and my parents and sister had all died from the disease. Before her death, my mother instructed my uncle to take me to Yanfeng to find my distant aunt.”
Little did she know that her uncle would also fall ill and die on the way, leaving Miaoyin to make her way to Yanfeng by begging.
For a young girl, the journey was unimaginably difficult. She encountered many ill-intentioned people, some attempting to kidnap her to sell her to a brothel or as a servant in a wealthy household. She narrowly escaped, gradually understanding the cruelty of human nature.
So she covered her face with soot, wore ragged clothes, and made herself look like a dirty, abandoned street child, finally reaching the outskirts of Yanfeng city.
She was so hungry she was about to faint when my brother rescued her.
In her words, my brother’s appearance 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. However, still wary of strangers and afraid he might be another hypocrite with hidden motives, she refused his offer. Unexpectedly, my brother immediately 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 so shocking that she was stunned for a long time. By the time she came to her senses and wanted to ask the benefactor’s name and address, he had already vanished.
Later, she found her distant aunt in Yanfeng city, but living under someone else’s roof, she didn’t feel comfortable asking for help to find her benefactor. She drew his appearance from memory and spent ten years searching in Yanfeng city but never saw him again.
Miaoyin had thought she would never have the chance to repay her benefactor’s kindness or see that gentle young man again, but unexpectedly, she encountered him again not long ago.
Her carriage had gotten stuck in the mud on the street. When she was at a loss, a passing man stepped forward to help. Dressed in new clothes, he didn’t mind stepping into the mud to help the carter pull out the carriage.
The man’s appearance gradually matched her memory of her benefactor. However, ten years had passed, and appearances could differ. Always cautious, Miaoyin invented 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 that person. Just as she was about to return the purse and explain everything, my brother’s two sisters pulled him away.
Miaoyin became anxious and chased after him, but with the crowded street, she quickly lost him.
Fortunately, his name was embroidered on the purse, and some passersby knew my brother, so she learned his identity. Now knowing everything, she contemplated how to approach him. It was at this time that her aunt discussed marriage with her.
After much thought, she decided that instead of marrying idle young masters, she would prefer to marry her benefactor. She first asked her aunt to help her enter the Hanlin Academy, thus beginning her interaction with my brother. What started as an approach because of his kindness gradually turned into genuine love.
“So what do you plan to do now?” I had almost begun to see her as my future sister-in-law. “Are you still angry with my brother? Actually, it was my bad idea that he took you to the Chu Women’s Hall…”
Her expression was soft. “I know he’s not that kind of person. Even if I’m angry, it’s because he doesn’t speak his mind and 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 for you…”
“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, looking beautiful. The previous cold demeanor completely 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.
Two people were chatting happily when the law of nemesis once again took effect. Princess Seven, Xia Zhiqian, walked into the tea house.
Xia Zhiqian looked somewhat haggard, her eyes red as if she had been crying. Besides the few maids always following her, there was also a girl in green with a cloud-like hairstyle, elegant and beautiful, with graceful demeanor. Xia Zhiqian occasionally whispered a few words to her, looking like close friends.
This girl was someone I had painted before, the same Su Hui who had been meeting An Jin by the willow bank.
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 turned to look, softly exclaiming, “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. Unexpectedly, Xia Zhiqian’s voice soon sounded near us.
“Miss Xue? Why are you dressed like this?”
Chapter Twenty: The Clever Su Hui
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.
