Cuiyu hurriedly returned to the small courtyard to find Lin Yingying.
Lin Yingying hadn’t been selling buns at her stall these past few days. After what had happened, there were bound to be many gossiping neighbors, so she had to avoid them for a while. Moreover, without Cuiyu, she found it difficult to manage alone.
The two sisters sat down at the table, holding hands as closely as ever.
Cuiyu chattered on about how spacious the princess’s residence was and how well the princess and her consort treated her. Lin Yingying sat beside her, listening quietly with a smile.
“I even gained a brother!” Cuiyu said happily.
Lin Yingying nodded with a smile, gently squeezing her hand, “You’ve finally found happiness after all the hardships. That’s wonderful.”
“I want to take you back with me,” Cuiyu said. “I can’t leave you here alone; I can’t stop worrying about you! No matter how rich I get, I won’t forget my old friends!”
Lin Yingying shook her head gently and smiled, “I’m not just being polite. Right now, it’s most important for you to reconnect with your family and make up for the lost years. Besides, our life together these past years is something outsiders wouldn’t understand. Your new role as a little county lady won’t be easy; you need to adapt first.”
Cuiyu’s gaze wavered. She knew that her past experiences couldn’t be erased and that she would surely face the disdain and exclusion of noble ladies. The family had arranged many lessons for her; she had a lot to learn from scratch.
Lin Yingying was genuinely happy for Cuiyu, but she also knew that everyone had their own path to follow. Not walking together didn’t diminish their sisterly bond.
“It’s a bit challenging now,” Cuiyu scratched her head. “To be honest, I still doubt whether there was a mistake. The princess’s daughter, me?”
She pointed to her nose, her face full of disbelief.
Then she smacked her lips without any grace and said, “Living a life of luxury is actually quite unnerving. But the scariest part is that you’re not there.”
Lin Yingying squeezed her hand and smiled, “Many things need to be faced on your own. You can do it.”
The two sisters chatted for a long time and finally reached an agreement. Lin Yingying would not go to the Princess’s residence with Cuiyu, and Cuiyu would stay there and learn to be a proper county lady. Of course, Lin Yingying accepted the banknotes Cuiyu left her without hesitation.
Before leaving, Cuiyu hesitated for a moment, then nudged Lin Yingying with her elbow and asked, “How are things with him?”
Lin Yingying pressed her lips together and said nothing.
“I have an idea,” Cuiyu said. “I’ve just returned and am not yet close with the princess, so I can’t speak frankly. But once I’m more familiar with her, I can ask her for a favor. How about we become sworn sisters, and you become the princess’s adopted daughter? That way, you won’t have to worry about your status being too low!”
Lin Yingying admitted she was tempted for a moment, but she still shook her head and smiled, “It’s late. You should go back.”
After sending off Cuiyu, Lin Yingying turned and opened the door to the inner room, seeing Jiang Yunche standing at the table, writing. She asked in surprise, “When did you come?”
“Noon.”
“Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?”
Jiang Yunche smiled and said, “I was sleeping soundly until you woke me up.”
“You…” Lin Yingying pressed her lips together and said nothing more.
Jiang Yunche suddenly said, “No need.”
Lin Yingying was taken aback for a moment, then realized Jiang Yunche was refusing Cuiyu’s suggestion. She bit her lip, leaving a pale mark on her rosy lips, her face turning slightly pale as well.
“You are you,” Jiang Yunche said.
He turned to look at Lin Yingying, seeing her head bowed in disappointment. Knowing she didn’t understand, he suddenly laughed and said, “A matchmaker will come in the latter half of the year. It should have been sooner, but we can’t marry during the national mourning period.”
Lin Yingying frowned at him, her eyes filled with confusion. He continued writing. Lin Yingying had always thought he looked particularly graceful and effortless when writing.
“Am I the one who doesn’t understand, or are you confused?” Lin Yingying shook her head heavily. “It’s impossible.”
“Throughout history, even women who married three times have become empresses. Why can’t you be my wife?”
“Those are exceptional cases, rare legends!” Lin Yingying argued.
Jiang Yunche continued writing leisurely, speaking slowly, “People come into this world once, why stick to conventions and be ordinary? Breaking norms and becoming a legendary figure for future generations to admire can be quite satisfying.”
He finally finished writing and put down his brush. As he passed by Lin Yingying, he gently squeezed her hand that hung by her side.
“I need to go back. There might be wind and rain tonight, so rest early.” He let go of her hand and walked out.
Lin Yingying, bewildered, walked to the table and looked at what Jiang Yunche had just written.
Two sheets of paper were spread on the table, containing both their birth dates.
Lin Yingying stood in a daze for a moment, then ran to the door, calling out to Jiang Yunche who was already in the courtyard, “Why?”
Jiang Yunche hummed and said, “Someone angrily declared they could be a concubine or a mistress for any man in the world, except me. So, I’ll have to marry you in a grand ceremony.”
Lin Yingying was silent for a long time before softly refuting, “I wasn’t angry…”
Jiang Yunche smiled and squinted at the half-moon in the night sky. He had climbed from the lowest rungs, only to gain control over his own life, not be swayed by others. If he couldn’t even decide whom to marry, his lifelong struggle would be a joke.
The weather turned cold quickly, transitioning from summer to autumn and then winter.
This year’s snow came later than in previous years, dry and cold, as if preparing for a blizzard. When the first snow fell, You Yuji sat by the brazier, warming herself. The trickling warmth spread, making her body feel warm too.
You Yuji’s due date was approaching.
She turned her head towards the direction of the bathing chamber and could vaguely hear the sound of water. Si Que had come by half an hour ago and was now bathing. Each time he visited, he carried a thick medicinal smell from his work in the poison lab. So, he always bathed first, using the fragrance that You Yuji liked to wash away the medicinal odor.
You Yuji withdrew her gaze and looked at the slowly burning fire in the brazier, her thoughts drifting to the current war situation.
The barbarian army had initially been small in number, but it had grown significantly. The state of Chen, with its substantial military force, found it difficult to deal with this army where each soldier could take on ten men.
The previous emperor of Chen, in his youth, had grand ambitions to unite the twelve states. In his later years, he became eager for quick results, leaving many troubles behind. For instance, continuous wars had drained the treasury. His overemphasis on conquest led to bandits even in places like the capital. His high expectations for the next emperor had left the position of crown prince unstable for many years, and the current emperor had been a last-minute choice. Furthermore, his over-reliance on ministers from conquered states, his insistence on showing benevolence by not killing the royal families of these states but keeping them in other palaces—these royal families, how many of them didn’t harbor dreams of restoration?
Now, Si Lang had secretly rescued many royals from these conquered states. Those people had gathered their old followers and joined Si Lang.
Si Lang’s military strength initially came from borrowing the barbarian army of Ning, and it had grown ever larger.
No one dared to discuss it openly, but there was a silent acknowledgment that change was imminent. The great ambition of the previous emperor of Chen to unite the twelve states might now be realized by Si Lang…
“Sister.”
You Yuji turned around and looked at Si Que. He was already standing beside her, and she hadn’t noticed. He had just come out of the bath, his body still covered in steam. When he bent down, a drop of water from his wet hair fell on the back of You Yuji’s hand.
You Yuji smiled gently, took his wrist, and let him sit beside her. She asked softly, “When are you leaving this time?”
Si Que raised his eyebrows, “Sister, I’ve only been here for less than an hour.”
He then smiled brightly, “Is Yuan Yuan reluctant to let brother go?”
You Yuji didn’t respond and adjusted her sitting position slightly. Her belly was too big, and staying in one position for too long made her lower back ache. She placed her hand on her belly, and Si Que’s gaze followed. He leaned in close and pressed his ear against her belly.
You Yuji took the towel from Si Que’s hand and gently wiped his wet hair. She said, “How long will you keep helping Si Lang?”
She didn’t like to interfere with others’ affairs. After a moment, she added as if justifying herself, “It’s too exhausting to always be working in the poison lab for him.”
“I’m not helping him.” Si Que turned his face to look at You Yuji, showing a look of disdain. “Si Lang is too stupid, he hasn’t even seized the throne yet.”
While wiping his hair, You Yuji said, “It’s impressive to achieve so much in less than a year.”
Si Que leaned closer to You Yuji and asked in a low voice, “Sister just doesn’t want brother to leave, wants brother to stay with you.”
The towel was slightly damp, wetting You Yuji’s hand. She folded the wet towel and, seeing the anticipation in Si Que’s eyes, slowly smiled, “If you’re here when I give birth, that would be wonderful.”
Si Que’s face lit up like a child receiving candy. He held You Yuji’s hand and repeatedly kissed her fingertips, “I won’t leave, not in the near future. I’ll stay with you and see the two of them born.”
At this, Si Que looked at You Yuji’s belly and frowned.
As her pregnancy progressed, it was diagnosed that she was carrying twins.
Si Que was not pleased with the news that You Yuji was carrying twins.
When it was first diagnosed, he had sulked by her side, complaining, “One is enough.”
You Yuji initially didn’t understand his displeasure but later guessed it was due to his childhood experiences. After a long silence, she held Si Que’s hand and said gently, “We will certainly be fair parents.”
Si Que lifted his eyelids and looked at her, tapping his curled index finger on the little rascals in You Yuji’s belly. “I’m just worried these little rascals will tire out my Yuan Yuan,” he said lazily.
On the last day of the twelfth lunar month, even though You Yuji’s due date hadn’t arrived yet, she unexpectedly went into labor early, possibly because of the twins.
The sky was clear and the white clouds drifted slowly.
Despite it being winter, it was as warm as spring.
You Yuji gently held Si Que’s hand, frowning as she looked at him. The words “don’t go” were on the tip of her tongue, but she didn’t say them.
Si Que leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on You Yuji’s forehead. He moved closer to her ear and whispered softly, “I won’t leave. I’ll stay with you and wait for our stars.”