After spending three peaceful and comfortable days in the Marquis’s estate, the day to return to her maiden home—the Huimen—had arrived in the blink of an eye.
The night before the return, Yun Juan felt a faint anxiety. She remembered that in her past life, Xiao Lanting had not accompanied Yun Xiu for her return home.
Back then, Xiao Mingyu, who should have been her husband, had gone to the Yun family instead. There, he acted as a “temporary husband” to her legitimate older sister, and had even split her own return gifts in half to give to Yun Xiu.
If it were anywhere else, she would have let it go. But since this was the return to her maiden home, Yun Juan wanted to salvage some of her dignity.
At the very least, she wanted to be able to hold her head high in front of her birth mother (the concubine) and her younger brother, and assure Nanny Sun that she was living well, rather than being relegated to a mere supporting character standing in the corner as she had been in her previous life.
Yun Juan waited for Xiao Lanting until the curfew. The servants in the courtyard had already begun taking down the lanterns hanging under the corridors, yet Xiao Lanting had still not returned.
Yun Juan instructed Jiaoyue, “Go and ask if the Eldest Young Master is coming back tonight.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Jiaoyue left, and returned shortly after at a light jog. “Madam, Young Master sent Changfeng back with a message. He said that official business at the magistracy is demanding, so he will be staying overnight there and won’t be returning.”
Yun Juan blinked blankly. “What about tomorrow? What time will he be back tomorrow?”
“Changfeng didn’t say… Your servant will go and ask again.”
“Forget it, don’t bother.”
Xiao Lanting was clearly not the kind of person to pay any heed to something like a bride’s return home. Compared to his official duties, what was her return home worth to him?
Yun Juan let out a soft sigh. Even though she had anticipated this, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment in her heart.
She performed a brief wash and went to bed early.
Early the next morning, Yun Juan changed her clothes and made her way to the front courtyard.
The estate’s servants were carrying crates of gifts onto a carriage, and Xiao Mingyu was standing nearby.
Yun Xiu stood beside him. Though dressed resplendently, she looked entirely lifeless and dejected.
Upon seeing Yun Juan, Yun Xiu glared at her fiercely. Her eyes were bloodshot and filled with a raw, vicious hatred, as if she wished she could tear a piece of flesh right off Yun Juan.
Yun Juan was utterly mystified.
Is all this really necessary?
It was just a casual remark. Surely Yun Xiu hadn’t failed to appease Xiao Mingyu yet? Had they not consummated their marriage the very next night?
This woman’s mind was truly narrower than the eye of a needle.
How could Yun Juan possibly know the torment Yun Xiu had endured over the past two days? The hand Yun Xiu hid inside her sleeve was trembling—not just from anger, but from sheer exhaustion!
That brute Xiao Lanting had ordered Changfeng to watch over her while she mended his clothes. He wouldn’t let her mend them during the day; instead, he forced her to mend them by candlelight only after the sky had gone completely dark!
Yun Xiu had stayed up late for two consecutive nights. Her vision was blurry, and her fingers had been pricked by the needle multiple times.
This morning, she had discovered dark circles under her eyes, looking as though her very life force had been drained. It had taken three layers of powder just to cover them up!
Xiao Mingyu nudged Yun Xiu gently and took the initiative to greet Yun Juan. “Good day, Sister-in-law.”
“Good. Day. Sister. In. Law,” Yun Xiu spat out, gritting her teeth and emphasizing every single syllable.
Yun Juan merely nodded, intending to board her carriage and wait inside first. However, as she passed by Yun Xiu, she was called to a halt.
“Sister-in-law, are you satisfied with the clothes I mended for you?”
“What clothes?”
Yun Xiu sneered. This wench was certainly good at playing dumb. If she hadn’t whispered sweet nothings in his ear, how could Xiao Lanting have come up with such a malicious punishment?
Xiao Mingyu tugged at her arm, signaling for her to restrain herself, but Yun Xiu refused to back down.
“Oh, where is Eldest Brother?” she asked, looking around with exaggerated curiosity. “Today is the return to the bride’s home! Why isn’t Eldest Brother here? And as for the return gifts, I don’t see any carriage loaded with gifts for Sister-in-law either!”
Yun Juan’s expression remained perfectly calm, but Jiaoyue could not keep her temper. Her face flushed red as she argued defiantly, “Eldest Young Master has already prepared the return gifts! It is only because of urgent business at the magistracy that he is delayed, but they will certainly be delivered later!”
Yun Xiu smiled mockingly. “No wonder I don’t see Eldest Brother. So he went to the magistracy. In that case, won’t Eldest Brother be unable to accompany Sister-in-law back home today?”
“You!” Jiaoyue looked at Yun Juan in flustered anxiety.
Yun Juan blinked and spoke with an air of earnest gravity, “Second Younger Brother’s Wife, there is no need for you to fret over your elders’ affairs. If you have such spare time, you would do better to concern yourself with Second Brother’s matters.”
“Did you not say that Second Brother would eventually become the Heir, achieve great fame in court, and establish a grand legacy? Since he has such lofty aspirations, he ought to start working hard right now.”
Xiao Mingyu knitted his brows and glared at Yun Xiu. How could she blurt out such words so carelessly!
Caught entirely off guard, Yun Xiu stammered, “I… I was…”
Yun Juan brushed past her and walked toward her own carriage.
Since Xiao Lanting was the eldest, her carriage had to lead the procession ahead of Yun Xiu’s. The time for departure had arrived, and just as the coachman raised his whip to set off, the sound of galloping hooves suddenly echoed from the entrance of the alley.
The sound came from the front of the street. Sitting quietly inside her carriage, Yun Juan paid it no mind until she heard Xiao Mingyu call out, “Eldest Brother! You’re back!”
Yun Juan froze. She quickly pulled back the carriage curtain.
Xiao Lanting pulled tightly on his reins, bringing his horse to a halt right in front of her carriage. Having just rushed back from the magistracy, he was still dressed in his scarlet feiyufu (flying-fish robe) of the Brocade Guards, with his xiuchundao (embroidered spring blade) strapped to his waist. Unlike his casual, leisurely appearance within the estate, this official uniform lent him a far more imposing aura. A single glance from him was enough to strike terror into the hearts of onlookers.
“I’m not late, am I?”
Xiao Lanting’s voice was drawling and relaxed as he looked toward Yun Juan.
Yun Juan’s fingers curled tightly into her palms as she forced herself to remain composed. “Just in time.”
Xiao Mingyu offered a bright smile. “Eldest Brother has arrived at the perfect moment; we were just about to set off.”
He glanced at the empty street behind Xiao Lanting, then scratched his head. “However, Eldest Brother, if you have not yet finished cataloging your return gifts, I can send someone ahead to inform the Yun estate. Our parents-in-law will surely understand if we arrive a little late.”
“No need.”
Xiao Lanting turned his horse around. “By the time we arrive, my return gifts will have arrived as well.”
As the carriage began to roll forward, Yun Juan let the curtain fall back into place. She placed a hand over her chest; her heart was still pounding furiously.
She carefully parted a tiny corner of the window curtain. Xiao Lanting was riding his horse right alongside her carriage.
His mount was exceptionally tall, so Yun Juan had to lower her body and strain her neck upward just to catch a glimpse of his face.
She had noticed earlier that his expression carried a trace of exhaustion. Realizing that he had likely been busy all night and had rushed back first thing in the morning just to accompany her home, Yun Juan’s heart gave an involuntary flutter.
“Xiao Lanting…”
Yun Juan called out to him in a soft whisper, “Why don’t you let someone else lead your horse? There is still about fifteen minutes before we reach the Yun family. You can come inside and rest for a bit.”
“No need,” Xiao Lanting replied.
Yun Juan pursed her lips. “If your official duties are pressing, you didn’t have to make this trip. It’s only a meal, after all; it’s nothing of great consequence.”
Xiao Lanting watched her silently as she spoke contrary to her true feelings. Her eyes had clearly lit up the moment she saw him earlier.
If he hadn’t accompanied her back, there was no telling how much gossip she would have had to endure and how many scapegoats she would have had to carry.
It was rare for Xiao Lanting to have such a sudden burst of benevolence, so he figured he might as well grant this pleasing little creature a small favor.
“Sit properly.”
“Oh.”
The parted corner of the curtain was slowly let down.
A moment later, it was lifted once more, and a hurried, soft voice drifted out from inside: “Thank you~”
Then, the curtain fell back down instantly.
The corner of Xiao Lanting’s mouth twitched into a faint smirk, and he withdrew his gaze.
The procession soon entered the main street where the Yun estate was located. The citizens of the capital had all gathered to watch the grand wedding three days ago, so they naturally knew whose family was returning home today, and a crowd had gathered to watch the spectacle.
Inside her carriage, Yun Xiu silently straightened her back.
She had personally inspected Xiao Mingyu’s return gifts; they were absolutely grand enough to astonish everyone. She was going to win back all the face she had lost over the last two days!
The carriage ground to a halt.
Yun Xiu adjusted her hair and clothing. “Have we arrived?”
“No, that’s not it…” the coachman stammered.
Yun Xiu frowned and shoved the carriage curtain aside. The very next second, she was utterly rooted to the spot by the scene before her.
The alleyway was blocked by a long, winding train of carriages. In front of the Yun estate’s gates, Changfeng was busy directing men to carry chest after chest of gifts inside.
The coachman gulped. “It… it is the Eldest Young Master’s caravan of return gifts. They have blocked the entire street… Our carriage cannot pass for the time being…”