Chapter 14

Yu Jingnian entered the second gate of the Prince's Mansion. Along the way, every maid and elderly servant who saw him showed expressions of terror, scurrying aside as if he were a demon looking for prey.

He sneered inwardly: *Look, this is his home! If it weren't for Sixth Sister still being here, even if it meant death, he would never set foot in this place again.*

Turning past a rockery, he saw a nanny in a green padded skirt leading a child of seven or eight, who looked as exquisite as carved jade, playing with ice near the artificial lake. Upon seeing Yu Jingnian, the child froze for a moment, then jumped up and shouted, "Second Brother!"

The wet nurse, however, turned pale with fright and clamped her hand over the child's mouth. "Eleventh Young Master, that is not your Second Brother! Let's go! Hurry, let's go!" She fled as if avoiding a god of plague; no matter how the child struggled, she refused to let go of his mouth.

Yun Xi trembled with rage, wanting to grab the nanny back to interrogate her properly, but Yu Jingnian reached out to stop him. Looking at his master's grim, ashen face, Yun Xi could only let out a silent sigh in his heart.

Sixth Sister, Yu Zhiyao, lived in Peach Moon Garden. She was four years younger than Yu Jingnian and was a full sibling to Yu Liang and Yu Jingnian. Their biological mother, Lady Huan, had passed away shortly after giving birth to Yu Zhiyao. Afterward, the Prince of Langya, Yu Wentai, took Lady Yuan as his second wife. He had many concubines thereafter; because of the numerous concubines and secondary wives, Yu Jingnian had a total of twelve brothers and seven sisters.

Among them, the only one close to him was Yu Zhiyao. This was not only because they shared the same mother, but also because this younger sister had faced a life of misfortune from childhood, suffering the same worldly hardships as he had.

She had been born with a congenital deficiency, bringing with her the ailment of asthma. Like Yu Jingnian, she did not enjoy their father's affection and had always been neglected by him. Not long after her birth, the stepmother entered the household, and her father was extremely cold toward her; one could only imagine how difficult her situation was.

By the time Yu Jingnian entered Peach Moon Garden, he had already hidden his gloom so thoroughly that not a trace of it could be seen. Yu Zhiyao was standing at the courtyard entrance waiting for him. She wore a rose-red small jacket, and upon her smoke-colored eight-paneled Xiang skirt, peonies were embroidered with gold thread. Her face was an unhealthy pale white, and her lips were extremely bloodless; even so, she was still a woman of exquisite beauty. Perhaps due to years of illness, she possessed a delicate, moving grace that was exceptionally captivating.

"Brother! You've come!" Seeing Yu Jingnian arrive as expected, a happy smile bloomed on her face.

"How can you stand in this spot? The wind is cold; what if it hits you? Your body is weak, how can you endure this!" Facing his sister, his voice carried a tenderness he had never shown before.

Yu Zhiyao said with a smile, "Today is the fifth day of the month. I knew Brother was coming to see me, so I came out early to wait! I spend all day in my room, either reading or writing; I was bored to death. Coming out to catch a breeze makes me feel more spirited!" She naturally took her brother's arm. "Brother, have you had lunch?"

Yu Jingnian smiled and said, "Since I have arrived at your Peach Moon Garden, I must naturally trouble my sister for a meal!"

"Then I shall personally go to the kitchen and cook a few of your favorite dishes!"

"Your intention alone is enough to satisfy me. Your asthma has only just improved and your body is still weak; how could I let you cook personally!"

Ultimately, he did not let his sister cook. Yu Jingnian led her to sit down and talk. "I have been busy with official duties lately. Are they treating you well?"

Yu Zhiyao knew that "they" referred not only to the stepmother, Lady Lu, but also included their father, Yu Wentai. All these years, if not for a powerful and ruthless "demon star" of a second brother to intimidate the stepmother and the father, how could she have enjoyed such a peaceful life?

She was a clever girl; she knew her greatest supporter was not her father, but the second brother before her.

Yu Zhiyao smiled gently. "Brother, do not worry! I am now the Yongfu Commandery Princess, appointed by the Emperor himself, and I have Nanny Lin by my side, who was bestowed by the Empress Dowager. How would they dare treat me poorly?" That serene and calm demeanor dissolved much of the hostility in Yu Jingnian's heart.

Yu Zhiyao's eyes grew slightly moist. "All of this is thanks to Brother's planning for me. I could never repay the depth of your devotion, even if I were to be ground to dust!" The title of Yongfu Commandery Princess had been obtained by Yu Jingnian thick-skinedly from the Emperor, and Nanny Lin had originally been bestowed upon Yu Jingnian by the Empress Dowager. Fearing his sister would be bullied in the mansion, Yu Jingnian had transferred Nanny Lin to her. With the Empress Dowager's prestige behind her, she could always ward off some of the hidden arrows and spears for his sister.

Yu Jingnian waved his hand. "You are my sister. If I don't protect you, whom will I protect? *Sigh*..." Yu Jingnian sighed. "It's a pity I am not yet married; otherwise, I would take you away and never stay in this messy Prince's Mansion again!"

Yu Zhiyao lowered her eyelids slightly. "Brother, please do not trouble yourself for me anymore, and do not clash with Father because of me! Everything is fine for me here in the mansion!"

Yu Jingnian ultimately stopped his sister from cooking and led her to sit in the hall, saying with a smile, "Look at what I brought for you!"

With a slight gesture, Yun Xi presented a thin booklet. Yu Zhiyao took it and flipped through the pages, her face immediately lighting up with immense joy. "Is this the Zhongshu Calligraphy Collection?"

Because of her asthma, Yu Zhiyao rarely went out, and she found joy in calligraphy within her boudoir, especially collecting famous calligraphers' works. This collection was written by the great calligrapher of the previous dynasty, Master Shousong. She had long admired his name but had never seen an original; now, she was as excited as a child who had received a new toy, her face flushing red.

"Is it a genuine work by Master Shousong?"

"If it weren't authentic, how could your brother have the face to give it to you!"

Yu Zhiyao's eyes brightened with happiness as she pulled on Yu Jingnian's arm. "Thank you, Second Brother! Where did you get it?" She knew that to make her happy, her second brother had been searching everywhere for these famous collections; he had practically worn out the thresholds of all the decent shops in Jiankang.

Seeing his sister so happy, Yu Jingnian felt great joy in his heart as well. Only in front of this sister did he show a hint of humanity. "The Shen family sent it over! As a first-rate aristocratic clan, the Shen family naturally possesses such depth." Yu Jingnian had always looked down upon those scholarly sons who lived off their ancestors' achievements and indulged in debauchery. He had no particular hobbies himself, but he collected famous calligraphy solely for his sister. That Shen Yun could actually track down such news meant he was quite a character!

The siblings appreciated the calligraphy for a moment before the meal was served. There were not many dishes, but every single one was something Yu Jingnian usually loved; Nanny Lin had personally supervised the small kitchen to prepare them.

After a satisfying meal, a young maid brought water for Yu Jingnian to wash his hands. Since Yu Jingnian had only come for a brief visit and needed to return to see the Emperor, he prepared to take his leave. However, Nanny Lin walked in, looking as if she wanted to speak but was hesitating.

Yu Jingnian blinked. "Does Nanny Lin have something to say?"

Yu Zhiyao's expression changed slightly, and she interrupted, "Brother, if you have business, please go attend to it! What could Nanny Lin possibly have to say to you?"

No one knew better than Yu Jingnian how gentle and understanding his sister usually was. To interrupt him like this meant there was certainly something being hidden from him. Yu Jingnian lifted the hem of his robe and sat down imposingly. "Nanny Lin, whatever it is, just tell me. This Young Master will settle it for you!"

Yu Zhiyao called out with a hint of grievance, "Nanny Lin!"

Nanny Lin said, "Sixth Miss, marriage is the greatest event of your life. How can you not let the Young Master vet the match! You must properly investigate the other party's character and temperament! This old servant is only thinking of the Miss!"

By the time Yu Jingnian heard this, his brow had already furrowed. He asked Nanny Lin, "Are you saying that Father and Lady Lu are arranging a marriage for my sister?"

Yu Zhiyao stamped her foot. "Marriage is the command of parents and the word of matchmakers. Brother has no reason to interfere. Now that the relationship between Brother and Father is so tense, why must Brother offend Father for my sake?"

Yu Jingnian waved his hand at his sister. "You need not say more. How could I ignore such a major matter!" He then said to Nanny Lin, "Which family's son is being discussed? Tell me in detail."

Nanny Lin said, "The Master and Madam are arranging the marriage for the Sixth Miss behind the backs of those of us in Peach Moon Garden. If this old servant hadn't cultivated some connections within this mansion, we would still be kept in the dark!"

Yu Jingnian nodded and praised, "You did well!" This Nanny Lin had originally been bestowed upon Yu Jingnian by the Empress Dowager. Yu Jingnian had transferred her to his sister precisely because he saw her as capable and shrewd. Because she was a person given by the Empress Dowager, even Yu Wentai and his wife had to treat her with respect, which allowed her to protect Yu Zhiyao. Judging by her ability to single-handedly plant eyes and ears around the Prince and Princess, her capability was clearly extraordinary.

Yu Jingnian went straight to the point. "Which family do Father and Lady Lu want to marry my sister into?"

Nanny Lin replied, "The Pei clan of Jiangzhou!"

"The Pei clan of Jiangzhou?" The Pei clan was also one of the great immigrant clans that had followed Emperor Zhaodi south. Although the prestige and power of the Jiangzhou Peis could not compare to the "Big Four" clans—Shen, Wang, Xie, and Huan—they possessed considerable strength both in the imperial court and in the provinces. The Pei clan was also ranked among the "Top Surnames." A marriage alliance between the Prince of Langya's mansion and the Pei family was considered a perfect match. Thinking this, Yu Jingnian's expression softened.

"Which young master of the Pei family is it?" The Pei family was also a clan teeming with talent and famous scholars; there were at least twenty adult sons in this generation. If they could choose a son who was proficient in both civil and military arts, Yu Jingnian would be happy to see this marriage proceed.

Nanny Lin thought for a moment and answered, "They say it is the Seventeenth Young Master!"

"The Seventeenth Young Master?" Yu Jingnian had some contact with several outstanding sons of the Pei family, such as the Seventh, Ninth, and Eleventh Young Masters, but he seemed to have never met this Seventeenth Young Master, nor did he have any impression of him. "Once I return, I shall thoroughly investigate this Seventeenth Young Master's background!"

Turning his head, however, he saw his personal attendant, Yun Xi, wearing an expression as if he had seen a ghost. A bad premonition rose in Yu Jingnian's heart. "Do you know Pei Seventeen?"

With a *thud*, Yun Xi knelt down and cried out loudly, "Master, this Pei Seventeen... he cannot be married!"