“Greetings, Your Highness…” Ye Lang strode into the room, clasping his fists in salute. The words that followed died in his throat as his gaze swept over Su He’s face.
“He’er?” He stared incredulously at Su He nestled in Pei Yan’s arms, calling out in shock, “What are you doing here…”
Su He’s heart fluttered for a moment before gradually calming down. She leaned closer into Pei Yan’s embrace, a soft smile curling at the corners of her lips. “Brother Ye Lang, I am now the newly taken concubine of His Highness.”
“Concubine?” Ye Lang’s brow furrowed, his gaze shifting to Pei Yan’s face. Pei Yan’s expression had also turned somewhat cold because of the way she had addressed him as “brother.”
The room fell into deep silence.
“General Ye, please take a seat.” After a while, Pei Yan set down his brush and patted Su He’s waist. “Go make tea.”
“But I don’t know how,” Su He turned her head, speaking with righteous confidence. “Since I was little, I’ve only ever drunk well water. I’ve never made tea before.”
“Then learn,” Pei Yan found her amusing and tried to push her off his lap.
“No, I came here to enjoy a life of ease,” Su He clung back, nestling in his arms without moving.
The way to dispel his doubts was to act even more intimately with Pei Yan in front of Ye Lang. Though Ye Lang was good, he couldn’t save her. She had already latched onto Pei Yan, this great figure, and she intended to cling even tighter.
As for Ye Lang, he would soon have his own fortunate marriage…
“Impudent,” Pei Yan pushed her off again. “Get out.”
Just as Su He began to lift herself, Pei Yan pressed her back down, whispering in her ear, “Don’t go far. Wait at the door.”
Only then did Su He obediently rise, curtsied, and swayed her way out. As she passed by Ye Lang, she turned her head and smiled at him, then lightly lifted the hem of her skirt and stepped over the threshold.
A cool breeze brushed past, sweeping away the faint smile on her lips.
When she was young, she often dreamed of marrying Ye Lang—him riding a horse, taking her to faraway places.
As she grew older, she came to understand that in this world, the only one who could save her was herself, no one else. Even if her methods were not honorable at first, that couldn’t stop her from gradually paving her way to a smoother path.
In the study.
Pei Yan set aside the crooked, messy characters Su He had written and looked up at Ye Lang. Ye Lang had won several consecutive battles, making him the undisputed leader among the younger generation of military officers. Several princes had expressed interest in winning him over, so his marriage was of utmost importance. Whom he married would determine which faction he aligned with.
“Have you decided which family’s daughter to choose?” Pei Yan asked him.
“Your Highness, I am not yet ready to marry,” Ye Lang frowned and turned to look outside the door. Su He stood in the courtyard before a cluster of green bamboo, still thin, but her back held a strangeness he had never seen before. How had that pitiful little girl changed so much?
“Do you like her?” Pei Yan followed his gaze.
Ye Lang shook his head, lowering his voice. “She is just a neighbor’s younger sister, born into unfortunate circumstances, so I cared for her a bit more. May I ask, Your Highness, did her family send her here?”
Pei Yan’s lips curved slightly. “It seems you are not very close.”
Ye Lang was taken aback for a moment before clasping his fists and saying, “I watched her grow up. We are very close, and I have always regarded her as a younger sister. Your Highness, if she did not come here willingly, I hope you will show mercy and allow me to take her back.”
“Then go ask her if she’s willing to go back with you.” Pei Yan looked toward the courtyard, where Su He was plucking a leaf from a bamboo plant. She gently wiped it with a handkerchief, then held it up to the sunlight to examine.
He couldn’t fathom what was so fascinating about it, but she actually smiled, her face brimming with excitement.
“Then I’ll go ask her.” Ye Lang didn’t stand on ceremony either. He truly got up and walked out of the room.
Su He was happily cradling the leaf when Ye Lang strode directly up to her, grabbed her wrist, and asked anxiously, “He’er, are you…”
Before he could finish his question, a delicate exclamation rang out from the courtyard entrance.
“General Ye.”
Su He turned to look. Several noble young ladies stood at the courtyard gate, each dressed in resplendent attire, adorned with pearls and jade.
“General Ye, who is this younger sister?” The one leading the group stepped forward, eyeing Su He suspiciously.
“Greetings, Miss. I am His Highness the Prince’s person.” Su He tactfully withdrew her hand and curtsied to the young woman.
“You’re Yan-gege’s person? What does that mean? Where is Yan-gege?” The girl tilted her head and immediately headed toward the study.
“Halt.” Pei Yan’s cold voice came from inside. “Zhang Jiulu, are you blind? Is my courtyard open for anyone to barge into?”
Several tall figures drifted down, blocking the girl’s path.
“County Princess, please stop!”
The girl was startled, covering her chest as she shot a resentful look toward Pei Yan in the study.
“Yan-gege! You scared me half to death.”
“If you’re not dead, then use your legs properly and get out.” Pei Yan’s voice grew even colder, as if tempered with ice.
The young women at the courtyard entrance didn’t dare breathe too loudly, obediently retreating several steps.
“Fine, I’m leaving!” The girl pouted, swayed her slender waist, and hurried out.
“Who is she?” Su He asked softly.
“County Princess Changping,” Ye Lang whispered.
“Is she the one chosen to be your wife?” Su He’s heart stirred, and her eyes involuntarily followed the departing girl.
This was clearly a girl raised in luxury—her skin delicate, her eyes and brows naturally exuding pride. Madam Ye would surely be delighted. Marrying a county princess, even if General Ye were fighting at the border, he wouldn’t have to worry about anyone stabbing him in the back. After all, Prince Changping was no pushover.
“I won’t be getting married now.” Ye Lang turned to look at Su He and asked quietly, “You still haven’t told me—did you come willingly? How could you agree to be someone’s concubine?”
Su He lifted her small face to look at Ye Lang. Her heart felt sour, bitter, and pained, as if several sharp forks had pierced it, leaving holes that let the cold wind whistle through.
“Yes, I came willingly.” Her eyes curved into a smile as she said, “Lord Pei is very good. I like it here with him. As long as it’s with His Lordship, even being a concubine is fine.”
Ye Lang studied her expression carefully before sighing helplessly after a long moment. “He’er, I originally thought that if the Su family truly mistreated you, I’d adopt you as my sworn sister and take you to the border with me. But if you truly came willingly…”
Could it really be like that?
But would his future wife accept having a sworn sister by his side who was fond of him? Even if his wife were kind-hearted, Madam Ye would never allow it.
Su He’s face was full of smiles, her long lashes trembling slightly before slowly lowering. In a sweet, delicate voice, she said, “Thank you for your concern, Brother Ye Lang. I’m doing very well here with His Lordship. He treats me well, and I’ll stay right here, not going anywhere.”
Ye Lang frowned, wanting to say more, but Su He cut him off first. Holding the leaves she had just picked, she cheerfully walked toward the well platform.
“Brother Ye Lang, you go ahead with your work. I have things to attend to.”
“Has General Ye finished asking his questions?” Pei Yan walked out slowly, hands clasped behind his back, looking at Ye Lang with a faint, ambiguous smile. “My mother wants you to stay for dinner. Let’s go together.”
“What about her?” Ye Lang glanced at Su He, who was sitting by the well platform, and asked quietly.
“She’s just a concubine. She has no place at the banquet.” Pei Yan brushed off his silk sleeves and walked slowly away.