In the early morning, snowflakes drifted down sporadically. By mid-morning, the sky was clear, making this first snowfall of winter seem a bit hurried. However, after the lunch hour, it started snowing again. The sporadic snowflakes from the morning were just a preview, and now, this winter’s snow was making a grand entrance.
You Yuji sat on the chaise lounge by the window, half of the window pushed open, watching the sudden snowfall outside. You Queyuan sat quietly beside her, also looking out. The little princess stared at the snow with wide eyes, finding it quite novel. For a six-year-old, days seemed long, and last year’s snowfall felt like a long, long time ago.
The little princess inched forward, stretching out her small hand through the window, trying to catch the snow. Unfortunately, the deep eaves shielded her from the wind and snow, so the snowflakes, though close, could not land on her small hand.
“Mother, can I go out to play? I’ll wear my coat and stay warm!” The little princess blinked her long eyelashes, revealing the pure eyes only a child could have.
Most of the time, she spoke to people with such obedient eyes, perfectly fitting her innocent princess persona.
You Yuji turned her gaze to Yushu, who was writing at the long table, placing a hand on Queyuan’s shoulder, and said, “Yushu, take your sister out to play for a while.”
“Okay,” Yushu immediately put down his pen and looked over with a smile.
Without needing further instructions from You Yuji, the people around the two little royals quickly dressed them in warm coats. Queyuan pulled her hand away from the maid and reached out to hold her brother’s hand, saying sweetly, “I want brother to hold my hand.”
Yushu held her hand and led her out.
The maids followed behind, chatting and laughing about the snow. Queyuan moved closer to her brother and quietly asked, “Brother, do you dislike me?”
Yushu looked straight ahead, watching the snow outside. He didn’t turn to look at his sister but asked calmly, “Why would I dislike you?”
The little princess’s bright eyes darted around quickly, her soft lips pressed together, and she secretly frowned. Queyuan felt that her playful antics were always seen through by her brother. Wouldn’t her brother only like a well-behaved sister? But she wasn’t a well-behaved sister; she didn’t want to be well-behaved.
She liked to trick people; tricking people was fun.
After a long silence, Yushu finally moved his gaze from the falling snow to the little princess. He gently squeezed her small hand and said softly, “You are my sister. Brother will never dislike his sister.”
Seeing that his sister still didn’t speak, Yushu added, “Brother is a year older than you, so he should be more understanding and tolerant.”
These words were originally said by Queyuan when she was being lazy, and Yushu was just repeating what his sister had said. Unexpectedly, this made her unhappy.
“That’s not true. You were born only half an hour before me. How can you use being a year older to press down on me!”
Yushu was stunned for a moment. Being a year older was her words, and being born half an hour earlier was also her words. So, no matter what was said, only she could say it? After a brief daze, Yushu smiled and said, “Alright. Sister is right.”
Queyuan hummed lightly, muttering, “Father said we are all the same. There’s never a reason for the brother to let the sister. I’m not worse than you. We should take care of and protect each other.”
“Yes, yes,” Yushu nodded. “Sister is right.”
Yushu’s response was a bit perfunctory, not because he didn’t agree with his sister’s words, but because he had heard them many times. However, seeing his sister mimicking their father’s tone was still amusing.
“Brother!” Queyuan suddenly stopped walking.
Yushu turned to look, and Queyuan threw the snowball she had been holding for a while at his face, then laughed and ran away. Yushu turned his face to wipe the snow off his cheek, feeling a bit of pain. He looked at his sister running away, who was laughing heartily and making faces at him.
Yushu looked at her younger sister and shook her head helplessly.
Her sister’s capricious nature was really—
Quite adorable.
Under the window, You Yuji watched the backs of her two children. No one knew better than her that her younger daughter was not as obedient as she appeared on the surface. After all, You Yuji had met the best actor, the one who could play the most innocent.
Thinking of that person, she couldn’t help but smile slowly.
Lady Jing stood by her side, watching along with her. Lady Jing glanced at You Yuji’s expression and said with a smile, “The two young masters are close.”
“Tell the palace maids to take good care of them and bring them back early if they get cold,” You Yuji instructed as she got off the chaise longue, dragging her floor-length skirt to the table to sit down. She waved off the palace maids’ service and brewed tea herself with great interest.
Lady Jing immediately instructed the palace maids and, upon returning, saw You Yuji leisurely sipping tea with an elegant demeanor and thought deeply.
Six years ago, when she first entered the palace, Lady Jing had many worries. In the blink of an eye, six years had passed. You Yuji seemed unchanged, her nobility had not made her become “noble.” She was still as gentle and kind as ever. Whether in the grasslands of the Si Kingdom, during her sudden hardships after losing her father at the Jinnan Prince’s Mansion, or now as the mother of the nation, her gentleness and grace had never wavered.
Interacting with her always felt pleasant and comforting.
Speaking to such a person, one couldn’t help but soften their tone: “The preparations for tomorrow’s banquet are all set. Does Your Majesty have any other instructions?”
—Tomorrow was You Yuji’s birthday.
“No more instructions,” You Yuji didn’t think much of it, savoring the tea she brewed, finding the taste quite satisfactory.
After drinking the tea, You Yuji leaned by the window to smell the plum blossoms and lazily flipped through a few pages of a book. Feeling tired, she changed her clothes and went to bed for a nap.
When Si Que came in, You Yuji was already asleep.
The palace maids all withdrew, leaving the warm sleeping chamber quiet. The incense burner emitted a faint fragrance, burning the spices You Yuji had mixed herself.
Si Que walked to the bedside, glanced at the sleeping You Yuji, and complained softly, “You didn’t wait for me again.”
Even the complaint was light, not to disturb her good sleep.
Si Que climbed into the bed carefully, lying beside You Yuji. He wanted to get close to her, to bury his face in her embrace and soak in her warmth. But worried about bringing in the cold air from outside, he hesitated.
Just then, You Yuji turned over, her eyes still closed, and murmured softly, “Come closer.”
Her sleepy and gentle voice was like a soft morning light, full of tender warmth that made one’s heart itch.
Si Que’s previously gloomy face finally showed a smile. He moved closer as he wished, nuzzling his face into the crook of You Yuji’s neck, and in a voice filled with tenderness and affection, called out, “Sister.”
It was uncertain if You Yuji heard him clearly. Her hand, which was resting on Si Que’s waist, slowly moved up, feeling his cool cheek, lightly covering it for a moment. Then she found his earlobe, gently pinched it, and finally let her hand fall back, returning to her deep afternoon nap.
Not long after, Si Que also fell asleep.
Si Que rarely dreamed, but this first snow’s nap deeply plunged him into a dream. It wasn’t a dream, but a recollection of past events.
He dreamed of six years ago when You Yuji was kidnapped by the deposed crown prince Chen Lu and taken to the Eastern Palace.
That was the first time in his life he felt fear. He found her, watching her slender back hurriedly dressing, and steadied himself at the door before he could calmly approach her. He dared not let You Yuji see his eyes; he could only stand behind her, bending down to help her dress. Her tears fell on the back of his hand, burning his heart, killing and reviving him over and over.
During a short nap, this scene replayed countless times in Si Que’s dream. Each time, the pain of her tears falling on his hand felt so real, causing his heart to ache repeatedly in the dream.
From that moment, he harbored ambitions for power.
Supreme power was never his pursuit. He confined himself within the gilded palace not for the sake of power but to protect her better, so she would never shed another tear in her life.
His forehead felt cool, and Si Que woke up with a frown. His eyes met You Yuji’s gentle gaze.
“What’s wrong?” You Yuji asked with a smile, “Did you have a nightmare?”
Si Que didn’t speak, staring at her for a moment before reaching out his arms, “Yes, I had a nightmare. Sister, come hug me.”
You Yuji laughed at his nonsense but still bent down to hug him. Recalling how she comforted Queyuan last time, she used the same tone to soothe him, “There, there, nightmares are just the opposite. Our Que Que isn’t afraid.”
She even gently patted Si Que’s shoulder, just as she had done with Queyuan.
“Nightmares are just the opposite.”
This phrase works for both children and adults.
Si Que didn’t feel awkward because of her child-soothing tone. Instead, he was very content as he hugged You Yuji, tightening his arms around her, holding her close.
“Sister,” he called softly, paused for a moment, then buried his face in her embrace, “Brother’s dear Yuanyuan.”
Yushu and Queyuan seemed to have returned. Si Que could vaguely hear their voices. But he was too attached to let go, even closing his eyes slowly in You Yuji’s arms.
Si Que suddenly remembered something.
A long time ago, when he first had impure thoughts about this fox spirit, he planned to die in her arms, considering it a magnificent death. After all, life held no meaning for him; living was just about figuring out a fun way to die.
Suddenly clear-headed, Si Que remembered his initial resolve.
Not only did he fail to die beautifully, but he also cured himself of a peerless poison, shamelessly staying alive.
It seemed the fox spirit’s charms were indeed potent, subtly turning his initial resolve into a joke.
Si Que parted his lips slightly, about to sigh, but he caught the elegant fragrance on You Yuji. He suddenly laughed, rolling over with her to the other side of the bed.
You Yuji gently pushed him and softly said, “You’ve slept long enough. It’s time to get up.”
“No,” Si Que nestled his head in her embrace, nuzzling, “Sister, keep comforting me.”
You Yuji looked down at him for a while. Si Que suddenly lifted his eyes, his dark eyes shining as he asked her, “Why are you looking at me, sister?”
You Yuji was slightly stunned, then smiled. She lifted her hand, gently brushing Si Que’s eyelashes with her fair fingers, watching him blink slowly.
Si Que grasped her hand, lightly biting her fingertips. He kissed up her fingers slowly, and just as he was about to kiss her lips, the sound of palace maids’ footsteps broke the intimate moment.
It turned out You Yuji’s mother had entered the palace.
At this moment, Queyuan was sitting on her grandmother’s lap, affectionately holding her grandmother’s hand.
A young girl stood beside Madam You, curiously observing Queyuan.
“Xingxing, this is You Lian, your cousin.”
Queyuan smiled sweetly, greeting her politely.
When You Yuji arrived, Madam You instructed You Lian to take Queyuan outside to play. You Lian had been holding back her question for a long time and finally seized the moment to ask, “Little Princess, why is your surname You?”
Queyuan was squatting next to a snowman, drawing on its belly. She looked up at You Lian with wide eyes and said, “My surname isn’t You.”
You Lian frowned.
She had just heard her brother calling his sister “You Queyuan.”
Queyuan, drawing a turtle on the snowman’s belly with a stick, explained, “On odd days, my brother’s surname is Si and mine is You. On even days, his surname is You and mine is Si.”
You Lian’s eyes widened in astonishment, unable to believe what she had just heard.