Su Leyun was lifted out of the water by a pair of strong arms, then wrapped tightly in a cloak. Her small face was pale and blue from the cold, and she shivered as she looked at Prince Jin.
“Miss Su, we meet again.”
Meeting those sharp eyes, Su Leyun frowned slightly, never expecting to encounter Prince Jin again so soon. She wanted to reply, but her teeth chattered, leaving her momentarily speechless.
Seeing her shivering, Prince Jin instinctively held her a little tighter.
Su Leyun wanted to break free but lacked the strength, forced to let the cool, lingering scent of agarwood from the man envelop her completely.
Nanny Zhang and the others hurriedly gathered around.
“Are you all right, Miss?”
Su Leyun shook her head, forcing a faint smile as she curtsied.
“Thank you, sir, for saving my life.”
As her words fell, the sound of approaching hoofbeats grew louder. A tall young man reined in his horse, dismounted, pulled Su Leyun from Prince Jin’s embrace, and draped his own cloak over her.
He had rushed back from the border, traveling a great distance, and had finally managed to meet his sister a step ahead.
“Nanny Zhang, what happened?”
Su Leyun stared dazedly at the robust young man before her, her eyes involuntarily reddening. This was her own elder brother, the brother who had risked everything to protect her in her past life.
Her brother had studied military strategy and tactics under their maternal grandfather since childhood. She could never believe he would recklessly seek glory on the battlefield, leading to his death.
Given a second chance at life, she was determined to protect him!
Nanny Zhang knelt to beg forgiveness. “Young Master, it was this old servant’s fault for failing to look after the young lady properly.”
Su Leyun discreetly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, then turned to Su Ye with a sweet smile.
“You must be my elder brother. It was my own carelessness, not Nanny’s fault.”
Su Ye looked with heartache at his little sister, who had been living away from home for fifteen years and appeared so thin and frail, wrapping the cloak around her even more tightly.
“Thank you, Your Highness Prince Jin, for saving my younger sister. I will surely visit to express my gratitude another day.”
Prince Jin watched Su Leyun with an amused gaze, his curiosity about this half-grown girl growing even stronger. She had been raised in the countryside, yet upon hearing the title “Prince Jin,” her face showed not the slightest ripple of emotion.
“You are my study companion; there’s no need for such formality. Hurry and take your sister to change her clothes, lest she catch a chill.”
Su Ye cupped his hands toward Prince Jin in a respectful gesture, then helped Su Leyun onto his horse and galloped toward one of the Sun family’s villas.
After bathing, changing into fresh clothes, and tidying up, a servant handed Su Leyun a cup of ginger tea to ward off the cold.
Only then did Su Ye get a clear look at his sister’s true appearance. Her features seemed carved from the same mold as their mother’s, evoking an indescribable sense of intimacy upon sight.
Such was the wonder of blood ties. He had never felt particularly close to Su Wan’er in the manor and had never experienced this kind of feeling before.
“Feeling better now?”
“Yes.”
Su Leyun nodded, some color returning to her face. Her eyes, still slightly misty, gazed blankly at her brother.
Su Ye felt somewhat relieved, but frowned as he noticed the half-damp cloak with its coiled dragon and cloud patterns beside them.
“Yun’er, are you and Prince Jin acquainted from before?”
Su Ye had served as Prince Jin’s study companion for six years and knew him well. Prince Jin was typically aloof and reserved, rarely speaking on matters that did not concern him. Yet now, not only had he saved Su Leyun, but he had also shown active concern…
Lowering her eyes, Su Leyun pondered for a moment before shaking her head faintly.
It was better not to let her brother know about last night’s events, lest he worry needlessly.
Su Ye breathed a sigh of relief. Indeed, Su Leyun had been raised in the wilderness—how could she possibly know Prince Jin? Perhaps Prince Jin’s words and actions were merely an attempt to use Su Leyun to foster goodwill with both the Sun and Su families.
The struggle for succession was on the verge of erupting. No matter what, he would not allow his long-lost sister to be dragged into it and become a sacrificial pawn.
“Don’t be afraid, little sister. Your brother will protect you.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Nanny Zhang entered with a clean cloak.
“Miss, the master and mistress are still waiting at the manor. Let’s return now.”
Su Leyun stood up, smoothed her dress, and was assisted by the nanny into the manor’s sedan chair. Lifting the curtain, she watched the tall figure riding ahead to lead the way, feeling a wave of reassurance.
The Marquis Su Manor—she had returned…
As soon as she stepped out of the sedan chair, several maids and older women hurried to the main hall to report.
“The Second Miss has returned!”
Hearing the word “second,” Su Ye frowned deeply. Su Leyun was his own blood sister, yet now she had to be ranked behind an outsider. He truly didn’t understand what his grandmother was thinking!
In contrast, Su Leyun’s expression remained calm. She even patted Su Ye’s sleeve reassuringly, indicating that she didn’t mind.
Entering the main hall, Old Madam Su sat upright in the host’s seat, with Su Wan’er standing behind her. Marquis Su and the marquise sat on the lower side, and a cushion had been laid out on the floor in the center earlier.
Following the etiquette of noble ladies in the capital, Su Leyun straightened her back, knelt properly on the ground, kowtowed, and greeted them clearly.
“Your unfilial daughter has returned today. I pay my respects to Grandmother, Father, and Mother.”
As her words fell, Sun Jiarou’s eyes immediately reddened. She walked up to Su Leyun and helped her to her feet.
“My poor daughter, I have finally waited for your return.”
Seeing her mother again, Su Leyun could not hold back her tears. It was wonderful—in this second life, her mother was still alive and had not yet contracted that unknown, vicious illness.
Sun Jiarou had a beautiful face and was well-maintained. In her youth, she had been hailed as the capital’s number one beauty. Now older, she carried even more grace and charm.
Su Leyun’s features were similarly bright and captivating, though her complexion was somewhat dark and sallow. With proper care, she would surely become renowned throughout the capital in due time.
Meeting for the first time, mother and daughter clung tightly to each other, unwilling to part for a long while.
Old Madam Su cleared her throat softly as a reminder.
“The child’s return is a joyous occasion. Why all this crying!”
Marquis Su’s expression remained indifferent as he echoed, “Indeed, let there be no more tears.”
Looking at Su Changqing’s cold, stern, and rigid features, Su Leyun’s eyes turned icy.
Marquis Su Changqing—her biological father, a rising star in the capital, widely praised for his virtue. Everyone envied her mother for marrying such a good husband who did not take concubines and doted on her alone.
Only Su Leyun knew that Su Changqing was nothing but a hypocrite, a heartless man who lived off his wife’s wealth while betraying her!
Long before marrying Sun Jiarou, Su Changqing had secretly been involved with the daughter of a disgraced official, his childhood sweetheart. Not only did he have a mistress, but he also had an illegitimate son older than Su Ye!
In her previous life, before Sun Jiarou’s first week of mourning had even ended, Su Changqing had eagerly brought his mistress into the household with a grand procession, personally destroyed Su Ye, and stripped him of his heir position to give it to the illegitimate son!
“Good child, don’t cry anymore.”
A gentle, sorrowful voice full of pity and regret called her back from her thoughts.
Sun Jiarou detected her mother-in-law’s displeasure in her tone and slowly released Su Leyun. She took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, then tightly held her hand, leading her to sit beside her. Her watery eyes remained fixed on Su Leyun, as if she could never get enough of looking at her.
Seeing this, the old lady pulled Su Wan’er to stand before her and introduced her to Su Leyun.
“This is your elder sister, Su Wan’er. You sisters must get along well from now on.”