It was late at night, and the distant sound of fireworks had gradually ceased.
You Jiamu, however, had no intention of sleeping. He lay on the windowsill, staring blankly at a dead tree in the courtyard for a long time. Although he was young, his brows were furrowed as if troubled by a great difficulty. Suddenly, he got up and ran outside, heading towards You Heng’s room.
On the way to You Heng’s room, he worried that Brother Yuanyi might already be asleep at this late hour. Nonetheless, he decided to try his luck. When he reached the door and saw Cousin Yushu coming out of Brother Yuanyi’s room, he breathed a sigh of relief and urgently asked, “Is Brother Yuanyi still awake?”
“He was just about to lie down. Do you need something from him?” Jiao Yushu asked with a smile.
Inside, You Heng had already heard the conversation at the door and loudly called for You Jiamu. After a quick goodbye to Jiao Yushu, You Jiamu pushed open the door and went in.
You Heng had already laid down, but on New Year’s Eve, there was a tradition of keeping the lights on all night. The room was well-lit.
You Jiamu ran straight to the bedside, kicked off his shoes, and climbed onto the bed. He said, “Brother Yuanyi, I want to sleep with you!”
You Heng saw through You Jiamu’s troubles at a glance. Patting his shoulder with a large hand, he smiled and asked, “What do you want to talk about?”
You Jiamu’s dark, bright eyes darted around twice before he lay down on the bed and looked at You Heng earnestly. “I heard that Brother Yuanyi will be going to the battlefield in a few days!”
You Heng nodded. This afternoon, he and several military officers were summoned to the palace by the Emperor, and it was almost certain that they would be sent to the front after the New Year. Although the Emperor had not yet issued a decree, it seemed likely that he would not only be sent to the front but might also be given the position of deputy general.
“I want to go too!” You Jiamu said urgently.
“You’re still young,” You Heng disagreed.
You Jiamu quickly retorted, “It’s the New Year. I’m already twelve in virtual years!”
He sat up, rolled up his sleeves, and showed You Heng his arm. “Look, Brother Yuanyi, I’m strong! And I’m tall! The brother from the Lin family next door, he’s five years older than me and not even as tall as I am!”
This was not an exaggeration. The You family was known for their height. Not only the men, but even the women were not petite, and almost all the girls had long legs.
You Heng’s smile faded as he put on a slightly serious expression and said, “On the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes. No matter how brave a person is, life and death are matters of fate once they are on the battlefield.”
He paused, then continued, “Jiamu, I know what you’re thinking. But you can’t rush into things. Achievements and fame aren’t something a ten-year-old can earn by just going to the battlefield once. You might die there. Even if you survive, the most likely outcome is that you’ll return as a lowly soldier with many injuries, some of which might stay with you for life.”
“I know… When it’s cloudy and rainy, Father feels a lot of pain in his knees…” You Jiamu said, lowering his head in dejection.
His father, who was like an invincible hero in his eyes, had also died on the battlefield.
“But,” You Jiamu raised his head, “you can’t achieve fame if you don’t fight for it! If you go, there’s a one-in-a-thousand chance of becoming famous. If you don’t go, you have no chance at all!”
“Fame?” You Heng laughed. “You have quite the ambition for a little guy.”
“You have to be like Father. Only then can…” Only then can he become a towering tree that his mother and sister can rely on. Yes, he was anxious. How could he not be anxious? He was extremely anxious!
You Heng, resting on his arm, watched the boy muttering to himself with amusement.
“Go to sleep,” You Heng yawned, turning over.
You Jiamu suspiciously stared at the back of Brother Yuanyi’s head, wondering if he had agreed or not. Hearing Brother Yuanyi yawn again, You Jiamu couldn’t help but yawn too. He rubbed his eyes and lay down on the outside of the bed, closing his eyes as sleepiness overtook him.
Just as You Jiamu was about to fall asleep, he began to regret coming here.
—Brother Yuanyi’s snoring was really too loud! Louder than thunder!
On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, the sky was clear, and the morning sun spread its warm light.
Having slept late last night, You Yuji woke up early but lazily didn’t want to open her eyes. She lazily turned over to lie on her back, wanting to change her position and continue napping for a while. However, Si Que’s arm on her shoulder turned her over again. Then, he placed his hand on her abdomen, pulling her closer to him.
He always liked to hold You Yuji from behind, their bodies curled slightly and fitting together perfectly, his face buried in the nape of her neck.
Si Que’s breath lightly brushed against the back of You Yuji’s neck, and their tightly pressed bodies, after a night’s rest, began to stir again.
No, not this morning.
You Yuji curved her lips slightly, reached for Si Que’s hand on her front, and gently held it. She spoke lazily, “We will have guests this morning. We can’t sleep in.”
Her languid and gentle tone wrapped around Si Que.
He began to cherish these moments, cherishing waking up with her.
“Are you going back?” Si Que asked. His voice carried a trace of drowsy hoarseness.
If You Yuji were truly the future princess consort of the Jinnan Prince’s Residence, she would have to hurry back immediately, and she shouldn’t have left last night. Now that the princess was injured, the future princess consort would be needed to receive the visiting ladies. However, since You Yuji signed the separation agreement, she no longer considered herself part of the Jinnan Prince’s Residence.
“Some of my father’s old subordinates will come this morning,” You Yuji said, now a bit more awake, her soft tone gaining some clarity.
Her father had some loyal and righteous subordinates who would surely come to pay respects on New Year’s Day, even though her father was no longer around. Normally, You Jiamu could host them, and now that her second brother was here, he could handle it too.
Since outsiders didn’t know she was no longer part of the Jinnan Prince’s Residence, she didn’t need to get up early to host. But Zhao Sheng and Jiang Chun would definitely come this morning, so she should meet them.
Si Que kept his eyes closed, gently tracing her collarbone with his fingertips. He had recently become fascinated with this one part of her body that wasn’t soft. Especially when his fingertips brushed against the hard collarbone while his palm rested on the soft flesh, the contrast under his hand fascinated him even more.
You Yuji thought for a while, gradually shaking off her drowsiness and fully waking up.
She patted the back of Si Que’s hand resting on her front and said warmly, “Alright, I have to get up now.”
Si Que’s leisurely caresses along her collarbone showed no sign of stopping.
“Sister,” he called out slowly, but then said nothing more.
Si Que’s voice, close to her neck, drifted into her ears. It was a very ordinary form of address, one he had used countless times. Yet, somehow, You Yuji suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable hearing it. Perhaps it was because, during their recent nights together, he would bite her ear and call her “sister” each time he entered her, causing her to blush. This familiar term had taken on a slightly ambiguous tone.
“Madam, are you up? Madam Zhao is here,” Zhenxu called, knocking on the door from outside.
Then Jiang Chun’s voice followed, laughing as she said, “Still not up at this hour?”
She seemed ready to push the door open directly, as she had done many times before. Zhenxu quickly stopped her, saying, “Madam Zhao, would you like some tea first? Let me help Madam get up. She slept late last night.”
From inside, You Yuji’s voice soon came.
You Yuji sat up and, while dressing, laughed and said, “Coming so early, are you trying to catch me being lazy? I’m getting up now.”
“Nonsense! I didn’t even know you were home before I came over!”
You Yuji turned around and let down the bed curtain, still talking to Jiang Chun outside, “Come in.”
The bed curtain fell, slowly closing. Just before Jiang Chun entered, You Yuji slightly lifted one side of the curtain, leaned down, and placed a light kiss on Si Que’s forehead.
Si Que, somewhat surprised, opened his eyes just in time to see You Yuji’s gentle smile. She quickly turned away and let the curtain down.
The bed curtain hid You Yuji from Si Que’s view.
Si Que raised his hand and lightly touched the spot where You Yuji had kissed him with his fingertip.
He frowned, a hint of displeasure in his eyes, thinking to himself, ‘Vixen—seeing someone coming, knowing he couldn’t do anything more, and deliberately teasing him like this?’
This sly vixen needed a bit of punishment.
Si Que slowly curled one side of his lips into a smile, a brilliant idea forming in his mind.
You Yuji, seeing the bed curtain was securely drawn, turned and walked to the dressing table. She and Jiang Chun were so familiar with each other, like family, that they paid no mind to formalities. Smiling warmly, You Yuji asked, “Why are you here so early?” as she sat down at the dressing table and began to comb her long hair.
“It’s not that I’m early, it’s that you’re up too late!” Jiang Chun replied, walking towards You Yuji. When she reached her side, You Yuji turned slightly, gently tugged her hand, and looked up at her with a smile, “Alright, alright, I’m up too late.”
Jiang Chun, however, gave You Yuji a meaningful look, lowering her voice to ask mysteriously, “Any good news?”
You Yuji was taken aback, glancing at Jiang Chun’s slightly swollen belly, her expression darkening.
Jiang Chun bit her lip and frowned, “Is that young man you’re secretly raising reliable? Is he up to the task?”
Inside the bed, Si Que’s happy expression from thinking of a way to punish the vixen froze instantly. He turned his head, looking through the bed curtain towards the direction of the voices.
Worried that Si Que might be displeased by these words, You Yuji quickly said, “People say that the fate of children is a mysterious thing. Maybe the timing isn’t right yet.”
“What fate of children? Zhao Sheng and I conceived on our wedding night!”
