You Yuji watched as Si Que, with a listless expression, sat down in a chair beside her. She glanced at him a few more times before beckoning to Cuiyu, calling her over.
“Cuiyu,” she said.
Cuiyu immediately turned her head and sat down next to You Yuji, looking at her attentively.
“Initially, I planned to find someone to impersonate a wealthy merchant and take you away from the the heir’s grasp. Once you were out of the manor, I would return your contract, and you would be free. However, the situation was quite peculiar when the heir left, and asking for you at that moment might not have gone well. So, I didn’t proceed with that plan.”
While Cuiyu listened intently to You Yuji’s explanation, she also considered that Princess Que was still sitting nearby. Was it really appropriate to discuss such private matters in front of him?
You Yuji noticed Cuiyu’s concern. She glanced at Si Que and gently said, “I think Baisui’s little paws are a bit dirty. Could you take him to the cleansing room and wipe them?”
Si Que lifted his eyes and glanced at You Yuji. Meeting her gentle, smiling gaze, he said nothing and expressionlessly stood up, picking up Baisui, who was lying by You Yuji’s legs.
Baisui, remembering how Si Que had swatted him away earlier, warily pricked up his ears and stared at him. Seeing that this time Si Que was merely holding him, Baisui slowly relaxed.
Si Que carried Baisui into the cleansing room, set him down, and closed the door. He scooped some water from the wooden bucket into a copper basin, added hot water from the stove, and checked the temperature. With a stern expression, he lifted Baisui and placed him into the basin.
“Meow—ow—” Baisui immediately started struggling violently as soon as his four limbs touched the water.
Si Que let go and stepped back, allowing Baisui to flail around. Despite his quick retreat, a few drops of water still splashed onto his face and clothes.
Baisui quickly jumped out of the copper basin on the wooden rack, landed on the floor, and curled his long body up, frantically licking his wet paws.
Only then did Si Que drag a chair over. He took a large cotton towel, placed it on his lap, then lifted Baisui, who was still licking his fur, and set him on the towel, wiping his wet paws.
Before Baisui’s little paws were completely dry, You Yuji’s reprimanding voice came from outside.
Si Que listened for a moment—
You Yuji was coldly scolding Cuiyu for her improper conduct and lack of manners.
Si Que could roughly guess what You Yuji intended to do and stopped listening.
You Yuji, usually of a good temper, rarely scolded anyone. Her sudden outburst upon her return surprised the servants of Tanxiang Yingyue, who gathered to gossip. Before long, news of You Yuji reprimanding Cuiyu spread throughout Jinnan Prince’s manor.
When the news reached Si Han, she was a bit surprised. Then she laughed and said, “It seems You Yuji isn’t completely muddle-headed. This is quite a venting of anger!”
By evening, You Yuji went to the front courtyard to see the Princess Consort. Before You Yuji came out of the Princess Consort’s courtyard, Gu Momo, who served the Princess Consort, had already stepped into Cuiyu’s room with a stern face to deliver the Princess Consort’s order—to expel the improper concubine from the manor.
For a moment, Cuiyu howled and cursed the heavens, the earth, and her fate, claiming she wouldn’t survive outside the manor. The servants hid in the shadows, listening and watching the drama unfold.
Cuiyu cursed for a long time, then spat heavily on the ground and, with her hands on her hips, declared, “I’ll leave! Who cares about this lousy place? Just wait until I’m successful, and you’ll all regret it!”
She angrily packed her small bundle and stormed out, passing by numerous onlookers who pointed and whispered behind her back.
Despite her fierce expression, Cuiyu felt quite happy inside.
She clutched her small bundle tightly—inside it was the ownership contract that You Yuji had given her that afternoon.
Once she was out of the manor, she would be free! She planned to make a lot of money! She would start by selling buns and tofu, then gradually open a restaurant! Eventually, she would open branches everywhere, just like the You family!
Proud and determined, she walked out with her head held high.
In the Princess Consort’s chamber in Jinnan Prince’s manor, You Yuji was pouring tea, one hand lifting her sleeve. The room was silent, except for the sound of tea being poured into a cup.
Gu Momo stood to the side, having just reported on the situation with Cuiyu.
“I didn’t expect you to take Cuiyu with you when you left,” the Princess Consort said with a smile. “However, there might have been more subtle ways to handle it. Expelling her with such an excuse might subject her to a lot of gossip.”
You Yuji smiled gently and said, “No matter how she leaves, since she chose to support herself by doing business instead of relying on a man, the gossip she’ll face in the future will be even more. If she can’t endure today’s scrutiny, it will help her realize early on how difficult the path she chose is.”
The Princess Consort looked at You Yuji with some surprise, then slowly nodded, saying, “You’ve thought a lot for her.”
You Yuji gently shook her head and explained softly, “The Princess Consort misunderstood. I’m not a saint. We’ve spent a lot of time together recently, and if I can help her with a small effort, I’m happy to do so. But I won’t always help her. Everyone has their own path to walk, and her future fortune is her own, unrelated to me.”
The Princess Consort thought for a moment, just about to speak when the baby in her belly suddenly kicked. She exclaimed softly and looked down in surprise at her already prominent belly. The surprise on her face quickly turned into a loving smile.
You Yuji, looking at the Princess Consort’s belly with envy, asked curiously, “Can it kick already?”
“It’s indeed the first time, so I was just surprised,” the Princess Consort said, taking some candied fruit from a maid to ease her discomfort.
“If only you could always be my daughter-in-law,” the Princess Consort sighed softly. “But it’s just not meant to be.”
You Yuji smiled without responding.
After a moment of silence, the Princess Consort said, “Are you sure about going to the palace tomorrow?”
Looking at You Yuji’s expression, the Princess Consort felt she was asking the obvious. She sighed, “Be prepared, the Empress Dowager might not immediately agree. She might find an excuse to send us back first.”
You Yuji frowned slightly.
She desperately wanted to leave Jinnan Prince’s manor and return to her own home. Hearing the Princess Consort’s words, she couldn’t help but picture the Empress Dowager’s gentle and kind face, with the warm grace of a daughter of the former nation. Her mother and the Empress Dowager were distant relatives, though this connection had long faded. Before recognizing this relationship, the two families had already lost contact and had never met.
Apart from the urgent need to return home to accompany his mother, Yu Yuji had other reasons for leaving as soon as possible.
The princess consort stood up, took Yu Yuji’s hand, and said lovingly, “Child, at this point, how could I still make things difficult for you? I know you’re not comfortable in the residence and are eager to go home. If the Empress Dowager finds an excuse tomorrow, we’ll enter the palace the day after tomorrow. If not the day after, then the day after that. If all else fails, we’ll stay in the Empress Dowager’s palace.”
Hearing the princess consort’s words, Yu Yuji couldn’t help but smile. He looked at the princess consort and sincerely said, “You are with child and haven’t fully recovered, yet you are running around because of me. I truly feel guilty.”
The princess consort shook her head and smiled, “It’s nothing. If you truly remember my kindness, then I have repaid my debt.”
Yu Yuji stayed with the princess consort for a while longer before returning to her room. When she arrived, Si Que was already comfortably asleep on her bed with the cat, Baisui, in his arms.
Yu Yuji quietly approached the bed, lifted the bed curtain, and glanced at the dark bed where the man and cat were sleeping. She gently lowered the curtain and tiptoed to the washroom to freshen up.
When she returned, she carefully climbed onto the bed. Si Que immediately embraced her, pulling her into his arms. He buried his face under Yu Yuji’s collarbone and lazily called out, “Sister.”
Baisui had long been tossed somewhere by Si Que.
“Mm,” Yu Yuji softly responded, turning to look at him. She leaned over, kissed his forehead, and gently said, “Don’t bully Cuiyu.”
Si Que’s eyes instantly opened, and the laziness and drowsiness were gone, replaced by clarity.
“Sister,” he slowly began, “you have so many people in your heart, yet you think of me as a bully.”
Si Que suddenly seemed to think of something. He slowly propped himself up, frowned, and gazed at Yu Yuji. A moment ago, he was calling her “sister” sweetly, but now his tone became more serious.
“Yuan Yuan, you don’t like women too, do you?”
Yu Yuji was stunned, looking at Si Que’s eyes, which were so close.
Si Que suddenly had a moment of clarity. He said, “Sister, you are so good, and so many people like you. Did you ever like someone before?”
“No,” Yu Yuji frowned, afraid he would start overthinking.
“That’s right,” Si Que immediately replied. “The only man you like wears women’s clothes every day.”
He stared at Yu Yuji, his gaze intense. “Yu Yuji, you actually like women deep down.”
Yu Yuji reached out to push him away, annoyed, “What nonsense are you spouting? If I liked women, is Yingying not sweet enough, Cuiyu not pretty enough, Chunxing not obedient enough, or Ah Chun not cute enough? Am I waiting for you, a stinky man, to dress as a woman?”
Yu Yuji pushed Si Que twice but couldn’t move him, so she increased her strength. Only then did Si Que let her push him away. He lay on the inside of the bed, looking up at the ceiling, and suddenly burst into laughter.
Extremely happy.
Yu Yuji paused, puzzled, and turned to look at him, meeting his bright, laughing eyes that held a vast galaxy.
Si Que pinched Yu Yuji’s face, his voice still filled with joyful laughter, “Why didn’t I notice before that you are so easily fooled, my Yuan Yuan?”
“You little liar, acting again! Didn’t notice before? How could I not notice before? How many times have you fooled me?” Yu Yuji picked up a pillow and threw it at him. Her soft voice carried a hint of annoyance, but her eyes also held brilliant stars.
Baisui, lying in the corner of the bed, impatiently swished his large tail, rolled over, and hid his ears under his belly.
In the middle of the night, these two were really noisy. Disturbing a cat’s sleep.
Si Que took the pillow from Yu Yuji’s hand and held her tightly in his arms. He leaned in, rubbing his nose against Yu Yuji’s soft cheek, lazily calling her “Sister.”
Yu Yuji smiled and turned her face away, avoiding his nuzzling.
Si Que frowned and stopped rubbing her cheek with his nose. Instead, he grabbed Yu Yuji’s chin and turned her face back to him.
“Sister.”
He slowly placed a kiss on Yu Yuji’s lips, a brief touch before pulling away.
“Sister.”
He called out again, placing another kiss on her blushing lips.
Sister, sister, sister, sister… Each time he called her “Sister,” he left a light kiss.
At first, his thin lips brought a cool, gentle touch, playfully leaving soft kisses on Yu Yuji’s lips. The sound of “Sister” slipped into her ears, one by one, caressing her soft lips and flowing slowly into her heart.
Gradually, Si Que’s naturally cool lips were warmed by the softness of Yu Yuji’s lips.
Each light kiss he left started to have warmth.
The night was thick, and all was silent.
Yu Yuji’s hand, resting on Si Que’s waist, tightened slightly, unconsciously clutching his clothing. Feeling each kiss that followed his calling her “Sister,” Yu Yuji couldn’t help but think of another time when Si Que, with every call of “Sister,” would…
A blush slowly crept up Yu Yuji’s cheeks.
Si Que suddenly stopped, gazing at Yu Yuji with a slowly rising smile at the corner of his lips.