The closeness between Princess Xiuning and Su Zhan was tacitly permitted by everyone in the Su family.
Xue Ning glanced back lightly and saw that Su Zhan had indeed stopped in his tracks.
The young girl, dressed in a bright crimson jacket and skirt, approached the man’s side with a lively demeanor.
The two of them, a talented man and a beautiful woman, looked perfectly matched.
“The weather has been cold these past few days, so I’ve been cooped up indoors. I thought I’d borrow a book from Shizi’s study.”
“Sure, what would you like to read?”
“Shizi, do you have any storybooks?”
Su Zhan’s cool brow furrowed slightly. As the youngest Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, his study contained none of the light reading favored by young ladies.
Princess Xiuning realized this, her flushed face as radiant as a flower.
“Shizi, when you return tomorrow, could you buy me a couple of books from the book market? The kind that’s popular nowadays, the ones girls like to read.”
The man’s voice was cool, yet patient. “Mm.”
Su Zhan stood not far behind her, and Princess Xiuning’s affectionate voice rang out as the two exchanged a few words.
Xue Ning recalled how, a few years ago, she had also wanted to read storybooks.
No matter how much she pleaded, the man had never agreed to bring her one.
Now, with Princess Xiuning, he readily agreed.
It was clear that his affection for Princess Xiuning was different from that for an unrelated sister like her.
“Sister Aning, would you like Shizi to bring you a book too?”
Xue Ning paused, not expecting Princess Xiuning to suddenly call out to her.
What had once felt so painful now seemed utterly ordinary.
“No need.” Xue Ning smiled softly and shook her head. “I don’t care for those.”
Su Zhan gave Xue Ning a meaningful look. As expected, she was still that little girl who loved to lie.
Princess Xiuning cooed, “Shizi, why not bring a few more books so all the young ladies in the household can read them?”
Xue Ning was not blind to Su Zhan’s disdain for her and had no desire to interact with them further.
She left the hall early, took the bamboo umbrella handed to her by an elderly servant, and plunged into the wind and snow.
“Sister Aning—”
She didn’t even hear Su Mai calling her from behind.
…
“Why did you call her?”
Su Yu, wrapped in a dark blue wide-sleeved robe, stood lazily under the corridor, a scornful smile curling at the corner of his lips.
Su Mai halted, turned around, and pressed his lips together slightly, revealing a gentle and earnest smile. At first glance, he seemed the picture of a perfect younger brother.
Su Yu glanced at him, his eyes cold, looking down on the third branch of the family from the bottom of his heart. “Grandmother still has questions for you. She wants you to go back.”
Su Mai replied respectfully, “Then I’ll go in to answer her questions first. Eldest Brother, Second Brother, take your time.”
Su Yu gave a noncommittal “Mm,” then turned his head to look at Su Zhan, who stood silently under the corridor. “Eldest Brother, what are you looking at?”
Su Zhan recalled what Xue Ning had just said to their grandmother. Squinting his deep eyes, he watched her retreating figure for a moment before withdrawing his gaze. “Nothing.”
Su Yu moved closer. “I’ll walk with Eldest Brother.”
Su Zhan shot him a sidelong glance, neither agreeing nor refusing.
Su Yu shamelessly trailed behind the man.
Fresh snow lay thick on the bluestone-paved path.
As the two walked, it crunched softly beneath their feet.
The north wind howled, and the heavy snow beat against their faces like knives.
“This Xue Ning—” Su Zhan clicked his tongue. “She seems to have changed somewhat lately.”
In the past, how could she have left first like this?
She would always linger to curry favor with her elder brother before leaving.
Now, the way she turned and left without looking back actually earned a bit of respect.
Su Zhan showed some interest, "What's different?"
Su Yu said, "It's just my feeling. Before, wasn't she always hanging around Elder Brother's Mingyue Ge? I haven't seen her go to Mingyue Ge for several days now."
Su Zhan paused in his steps, recalling the little girl's tearful accusations against him at Zhenguo Temple today.
He hadn't really taken her words and tears to heart.
After all, since childhood, Xue Ning had never been particularly brave.
Whenever Su Qing and the others occasionally said a few words to her, she would tear up and cry.
Even when the sisters had disagreements, she couldn't win a fight.
Every time, she would come looking for him in a sorry state, her hair a tangled mess.
His nature was strict, and he couldn't stand her uselessness, always treating her harshly.
There were even times when he made her sit outside his corridor all day long.
But each time, she showed not a hint of resentment.
When she saw him come out, she would perk up her ears, curve her eyes, and give him a cautious smile, like a little kitten begging for pity.
Xue Ning had a soft, easily bullied nature, or so he had always thought.
But today, they returned to the city together.
In the carriage, she leaned against Bao Chan and fell asleep.
Asleep, her body couldn't stay upright and leaned toward him.
Since he had made her cry, he thought he would indulge her this once.
But the moment his large hand touched her, her body tensed like a bowstring, and her small hands pushed hard against him.
If he hadn't used some strength, she probably wouldn't have obediently stayed in his arms.
Later, whether from a nightmare or something else, she silently shed tears the whole time.
That look seemed utterly heartbroken.
If it weren't for him, any other man would surely have been bewitched by her fragile appearance.
In the end, Xue Ning was still very skilled at using her face and those pitiful eyes.
"It's all just an act."
Su Zhan chuckled lightly and continued walking forward.
"I don't think it looks like an act," Su Yu said. "Would she have dared to speak to Grandmother like that before?"
Xue Ning's performance today was indeed eye-opening.
Su Zhan's long brows drew together slightly, his thick lashes dusted with a thin layer of snowflakes, making his sharply defined, handsome face appear even more imposing.
He rarely smiled, his cold, pale face carrying an indescribable air of authority.
Su Yu's tone became less casual. He laughed, "But she's still the same as ever, single-mindedly trying to seduce Elder Brother."
Leaving Wanshou Hall, the two brothers walked toward Mingyue Ge.
Upon reaching the study, Su Zhan pinched the bridge of his nose. "This time, it was my fault for upsetting her. Mo Bai, later, send a gift to Qiyun Pavilion."
Su Yu was displeased. "Elder Brother, why must you be so good to her?"
Su Zhan said unhurriedly, "After all, she is being raised in the Marquis's residence. In the future, she will represent the Marquis's residence when she marries. With her looks, she will surely add another advantage to the Marquis's residence."
Only then did Su Yu understand, his gaze deepening.
No wonder Grandmother, who disliked daughters of military families, still tacitly allowed Madam Jiang to raise Xue Ning in the residence.
So this was the plan.
…
In the pitch-black night, the howling wind and snow filled the air.
In the small boudoir, a candle as thick as half an arm burned.
The wick flickered, spreading a warm yellow glow throughout the room, illuminating the tattered cloak hanging on the rosewood clothes rack.
Bao Chan had already placed the cloak on the incense cage to dry. The fabric was coarse, a pale blue-green, and the craftsmanship was poor, with several patches already visible. Yet it was thick enough, made of several layers of blue cloth, and carried a faint scent of pinewood—much like the young master in the worn blue robe, who, despite appearing rather down-and-out, exuded a peculiar sense of gentle elegance and dignity.
Xue Ning emerged from the bathroom and glanced at the cloak, a slight smile curling at the corner of her lips.
"Is it dry?"