When little Lier ran off earlier, he had boldly declared that he would make sure she got something delicious to eat.
And he actually kept his word.
As the courtyard lamps were being lit, the little fellow came running over with quick little footsteps and borrowed Yu’er away. After several trips back and forth, an entire table was filled in the blink of an eye.
Seeing the results, Jiang Jiaran thought Yu’er had not been exaggerating. Even if he was not a little devil, he was definitely a tiny tyrant in his own territory.
The dishes had first been delivered by the kitchen servants to Ying Li. Then Lier had called Yu’er over to act as free labor and carry everything back. Apparently, most of the dishes on the table had been intercepted from Third Miss’s birthday banquet halfway through.
Could it be that he was worried the kitchens delivering food directly would bring trouble to her later?
Tiny as he was, he had plenty of schemes in that little head.
Yu’er had mentioned before that Ying Li was an orphan before Ying Zhaolou picked him up. Whether he had always been clever or learned it from Ying Zhaolou later, Jiang Jiaran did not know.
After finishing his task, the little fellow puffed out his chest proudly and disappeared again in the blink of an eye. Jiang Jiaran did not think much more about it.
After all, the aroma of the lavish feast before her had already awakened her appetite.
Ever since arriving here, Jiang Jiaran finally had a proper full meal.
Yu’er had been summoned away by the little fellow to help out, and when she returned, her expression was somewhat stiff.
Jiang Jiaran noticed and asked about it, only for Yu’er to explain that she had followed Ying Li to Young Master Lou’s courtyard.
“Young Master Lou lives in that courtyard…”
She shivered.
Even though she had only stood outside the courtyard gate briefly, she still felt nervous and frightened.
She had heard before that a servant once entered Young Master Lou’s courtyard without permission and had his arms and legs broken before being thrown out.
That was why when Yu’er learned yesterday that Young Master Lou had not shown himself, although she felt sorry for the young madam, she had secretly felt relieved too.
Jiang Jiaran originally thought Ying Li had played some prank on her, but she had not expected Yu’er’s fear to stem from Ying Zhaolou instead.
“So Lier lives together with Ying Zhaolou.” She fell into thought.
Well, that made sense. Since he was Ying Zhaolou’s adopted younger brother, of course he stayed by his side.
Yu’er nodded along with Jiang Jiaran’s words and pointed in a direction.
“It’s right next door.”
Jiang Jiaran froze.
Seriously? That close?
She had assumed Ying Zhaolou preferred peace and quiet and would therefore be living in some secluded courtyard within the Ying residence. She had not expected there to be only a wall separating them.
People like him tended to have sharper senses than ordinary people. Jiang Jiaran immediately bit down on her chopsticks and frowned while trying to recall whether she had ever loudly badmouthed him.
Villains loved holding grudges.
Seeing the constant changes in the young madam’s expression, Yu’er suddenly felt uncertain too. After hesitating, she cautiously leaned closer and asked,
“Young Madam knows about Young Master Lou, right?”
Naturally, the little maid was not referring to Ying Zhaolou’s crippled legs and illness, but rather the kind of person Ying Zhaolou was.
Although it was no longer a secret, a young unmarried lady raised in the inner chambers might not know much about outside affairs or the matters of other families. Especially someone pushed forward as a Substitute Bride.
The original host might not have fully understood Ying Zhaolou’s situation, but Jiang Jiaran had possessed a godlike reader’s perspective and therefore knew the general story.
What Yu’er wanted to remind her of was simply that Ying Zhaolou was the son of Second Master Ying and a courtesan mistress from a flower house. He had been abandoned since childhood. Even after returning to the Ying family later, everyone in the household still feared and avoided him. Since she had married Ying Zhaolou, her situation would be difficult.
But Jiang Jiaran knew far more than that.
Ying Zhaolou’s biological mother had been a courtesan who sold only her art. Second Master Ying had sweet-talked her into redeeming herself and becoming his mistress. When she was close to giving birth, the Ying family and Second Madam found out about the affair.
Chaos erupted in the household, and for the sake of preserving his own peace, Second Master Ying immediately turned his back on them, leaving mother and son to fend for themselves.
Later, while Ying Zhaolou was still very young, his mother went mad and died, leaving him wandering the streets alone.
Once, while he was being beaten and kicked by others, the Emperor, who was traveling incognito in the city at the time, happened to see him along with the then Wing Guard Commander. They rescued him, and afterward the Wing Guard Commander took him in as a disciple and raised him personally. After the commander died, Ying Zhaolou inherited his position.
Before Emperor Xuchang was captured, while he still sat upon the dragon throne, the Wing Guard had been the organization closest to the Emperor’s heart. No one else could compare.
Even the feared Commander of the Imperial Guards had to courteously yield when meeting the Wing Guard Commander.
The reason Jiang Jiaran remembered all this so clearly was because the captured Emperor was the male lead.
He had a lot of scenes.
For example, Jiang Jiaran still did not understand why the Jiang family had agreed to the marriage and replaced the bride at the last minute aside from giving the female lead a reason to flee the marriage.
Even the Ying family feared Ying Zhaolou despite his crippled legs, so where had they found the courage to arrange a marriage for him? Even the last-minute bride swap only seemed intended to anger him.
After all, within the main storyline of the male and female leads, these details were insignificant.
Xu Yuanzheng was a distant relative of the Ying family.
Because the new Emperor had announced a special imperial examination, his family sent him to the capital.
Although the chances of him earning an official post were slim, his family hoped he could at least seek other opportunities and make connections with scholars and literary figures while in the capital.
Unfortunately, Xu Yuanzheng’s name had nothing to do with striving for success.
After temporarily settling into the Ying residence, instead of handling proper matters, he immediately fell for his third cousin Ying Xueshuang.
Every day, his mind was filled with thoughts of how to win her favor.
Today, in celebration of Third Cousin’s birthday, he had carefully selected a gift. Yet after approaching the furious Ying Xueshuang, he ended up humiliating himself instead.
After returning with a dark expression, his anger flared even higher. Thinking that Ying Xueshuang had actually been bullied by a bratty child made him want to rush out and beat Ying Li up.
His attendants were so frightened that they hurriedly stopped him.
That was Ying Zhaolou’s person. He absolutely could not be provoked.
“So what? He’s just a cripple,” Xu Yuanzheng stubbornly cursed aloud, though his feet had already stopped moving first.
Anyone who heard the name Wing Guard would tremble.
If Ying Zhaolou had not become crippled, Xu Yuanzheng would never have dared stay at the Ying residence even if it killed him.
Ying Zhaolou might now be crippled and sickly, but he still had a subordinate named Shi Feng guarding him. Charging over recklessly would not be called beating someone up.
It would be called courting death.
At that moment, one of the attendants hesitated briefly before leaning close to whisper something into his ear.
In truth, shortly after the dishes had been delivered there earlier, a maid had already carried them away.
The attendant had merely spotted it by accident. At first he found it strange, but after carefully looking around, he realized in shock exactly where he was.
The area around Young Master Lou’s courtyard was avoided by everyone in the manor. Unless absolutely necessary, no one passed by there.
Had he not been staying temporarily in the residence with his young master and unfamiliar with the roads, even ten times the courage would not have been enough for him to loiter outside Ying Zhaolou’s courtyard.
Xu Yuanzheng quickly understood and asked in surprise,
“You mean that newly married Jiang woman?”
Even though Ying Zhaolou himself had never appeared or spoken from beginning to end, this had still been a proper marriage formally carried out by the Ying family through the main gates. Everyone knew about it.
The more Xu Yuanzheng thought about it, the more his anger surged.
So it was that woman after all. She had barely entered the household before tricking a little brat into stealing things from the woman he liked, making his cousin upset and angry.
Now that the person involved was no longer Ying Zhaolou himself, Xu Yuanzheng found his lost courage returning.
Several attendants exchanged glances and reminded him that she was Ying Zhaolou’s wife.
Xu Yuanzheng instead laughed.
“What kind of wife is she? Ying Zhaolou himself probably doesn’t even acknowledge her.”
The marriage had been arranged entirely by the Jiang and Ying families. Ying Zhaolou had ignored it from beginning to end.
Since the attendants had come to stay in the Ying residence with Xu Yuanzheng, all their attention remained focused on their young master, and they knew little about anything else.
They could not help quietly discussing it among themselves.
“I heard there was some marriage agreement between the two families’ ancestors. Maybe from the great-grandfather generation or even earlier?”
“That’s way too far back. Why was it never mentioned in previous generations? Did everyone forget?”
“How would I know? We only just arrived too. But changing the bride at the last moment really is strange. This marriage feels way too careless.”
Xu Yuanzheng knew a little more and waved his hand dismissively.
“She’s just the Jiang family’s adopted daughter. Considering who she’s marrying, would the Jiang family really be willing to sacrifice their biological daughter?”
As for the original Second Miss, it was said that she had been sent to recuperate at an estate due to poor health. That excuse was obviously not worth believing.
Since this adopted daughter had been pushed out by the Jiang family, she was no different from discarded trash.
Then they pulled this trick of changing the bride without prior notice, humiliating the Ying family in the process. Naturally, she should not expect any kindness from the Ying family, much less from Ying Zhaolou.
A woman like that probably held less status in the manor than even a stewarding servant.
And yet she dared bully his beloved Cousin Xueshuang?
Xu Yuanzheng rolled up his sleeves.
Let Master Xu teach her a proper lesson.
Jiang Jiaran knew absolutely nothing about Xu Yuanzheng’s fury over his failed attempt at currying favor.
After eating her fill, digesting her food, and passing some time, she simply went to bed.
In this environment filled with gentle wind and insect chirping, even her daily schedule became more regular.
The next morning after waking, Jiang Jiaran seemed to start pondering something. She wandered around the courtyard studying it for quite a while.
Although the courtyard was not large and the furnishings could not be considered luxurious, they were at least mostly new. The only issue was its remote location.
At this point Jiang Jiaran finally understood that the Ying family had actually intended to arrange things so the bride would stay closer to Ying Zhaolou.
So at least on the surface, the Ying family had still treated the original bride, Jiang family’s true Second Miss, reasonably well.
They had not intended to become enemies.
“So if the one who married over had been Jiang Minxian, she definitely would have gotten enough food to eat,” Jiang Jiaran joked to herself.
But what exactly had the pitiful original host done wrong?
“What is Young Madam looking at?” Yu’er asked curiously after lowering the sleeves she had rolled up.
Jiang Jiaran turned to look at her.
Yu’er was hardworking and meticulous. She cleaned the courtyard spotlessly all by herself.
She also woke up early and had just finished making several trips to refill the water jars, leaving herself covered in sweat.
The little maid was not afraid of hardship or exhaustion. She was simply too honest and somewhat slow-witted, which made her easy to bully.
Jiang Jiaran beckoned Yu’er over and pointed out a spot before asking whether she could get some mud, bricks, and similar materials.
Yu’er nodded with a confused expression.
There was none here, but unused materials like that could probably be found in the outer servants’ quarters and miscellaneous courtyards. She should be able to gather some.
“What does Young Madam want to do?”
Jiang Jiaran smiled.
Doing things yourself was still the most reliable way to ensure food and clothing.
If she wanted to worship her stomach, she would begin by building a stove.
While Jiang Jiaran planned how to set up her own cooking space in the courtyard, Lier once again ran off to “strengthen relations” with the kitchen steward.
In the neighboring courtyard separated by only a single wall—
Inside the elegantly decorated room, soft sunlight filtered through the window lattice and gently scattered across the backrest of the wheelchair.
The man seated within it looked pale.
Perhaps because he had been recuperating indoors for so long, even his thin lips carried little color.
At that moment, he leaned lazily against one hand with an indifferent expression, as though nothing in the world interested him.
Only after Shi Feng finished arranging the meal and the aroma reached him did he withdraw his supporting hand and allow Shi Feng to push him toward the table.
Just as he lifted his chopsticks, familiar footsteps rapidly approached from afar.
Lier rushed in like the wind, grabbed the chair, and plopped down across from him.
“Time to eat!”
He bit his chopsticks and immediately reached toward his favorite dish.
Without even raising his eyelids, Ying Zhaolou flicked his wrist slightly.
Tap.
He knocked Ying Li’s chopsticks aside.
“Go away. Didn’t you already rob several tables of dishes? And you still have the nerve to come eat mine?”
The moment he spoke, the trace of sickliness lingering between his brows seemed startled away and vanished instantly.
Though his expression remained lazy, his eyes were bright and vivid.
Like a battle-hardened little warrior, the child smoothly dragged the plate toward himself and swept more than half of it into his bowl before reaching for another dish.
He did not forget to argue back either.
“Those were all stolen for my sister-in-law. I didn’t eat any.”
Though speaking of it only made him angry.
Today the kitchens had been guarding against him. After looking around, he found only a pitiful amount of ingredients and dishes left, making the whole experience completely unsatisfying.
Ying Zhaolou stared at the ravaged dishes before him and frowned in disgust while looking at the brat stuffing his face.
A trace of confusion appeared in his eyes.
Why had he been so careless back then? Picking up random things from the roadside and bringing them home.
Ying Li had long grown used to being disliked. His older brother only enjoyed insulting him verbally.
After swallowing his food, the little fellow grinned.
“Uncle Shi Feng already prepared my bowl and chopsticks.”
Shi Feng merely smiled silently from the side.
The sect master and Lier had always interacted like this.
Ying Zhaolou set down his chopsticks and propped his head up with one hand, amused.
“You eat my food every day, yet you steal good food and drinks for someone else. Where’s your conscience?”
“She’s not someone else. She’s Sister-in-law.” Lier puffed his cheeks while chewing meat and angrily said, “If the bad people in the Ying family starve Sister-in-law to death, then they’re disrespecting you, Ying Zhaolou!”
Ying Zhaolou slightly raised the corner of his eyes.
“So I should thank you for that?”
“We’re family. No need to be polite.”
“Brother, you don’t know this, but Sister-in-law isn’t ugly at all. She’s really beautiful and a good person too. You didn’t even see how she looked in her wedding dress. Huge loss for you.”
Ying Zhaolou curled his lips slightly upon hearing that.
“Oh? Is she prettier than me?”
Ever since injuring his legs, Ying Zhaolou rarely left the house or met people. His long black hair remained loosely scattered instead of tied up.
The hand resting on the table was slender and distinct at the joints, with faint blue veins visible beneath pale skin.
His complexion was sickly pale, causing the tear mole at the corner of his eye to stand out even more.
Compared to the sharp authority he once displayed outside, he now appeared lazy and noble instead.
Lier shifted his backside and raised a thumbs-up.
“Of course not. Who could compare to you, Brother? You’re the most beautiful in the world. Even looking sickly, nobody can rival you!”
You look good sitting still, good while insulting people, and even better rolling your eyes!
Before he could finish flattering him, a chopstick flew over and smacked directly against his forehead.
Lier covered his forehead and protested,
“How can you hit a child?”
Ying Zhaolou sneered.
“Hah.”
Ying Li snorted and generously decided not to argue with a sick person. After finishing the last two bites of rice, he ran away, taking two untouched plates of meat with him before leaving.
Looking at the somewhat disastrous state of the dining table after Lier’s raid, Shi Feng asked whether another table of dishes should be prepared.
Ying Zhaolou flicked his fingertips and pushed the bowl aside irritably.
“I’m not eating anymore.”
After the brat’s disruption, even the tiny bit of appetite he had was gone.
Lier had come specifically to complain.
Ying Zhaolou tilted his head and looked out the window. A cold glint flashed through his eyes that had not appeared earlier.
Ever since his injury, he had shut himself away and stopped going out.
As long as no one disturbed his peace, he had not cared what others did before. They could even carry a woman into the manor if they wanted. He could not be bothered to interfere.
Ying Zhaolou frowned.
But if Lier started bothering him every day because that woman had no food to eat—
That would be far too annoying.
“Tell them this. If Lier takes my food again to give to that woman, I’ll skin them alive and steam buns with their flesh.”
Shi Feng nodded before thoughtfully adding,
“Lier seems to like her quite a lot.”
Things had been rather dull lately. It was rare for Lier to find someone or something interesting.
Ying Zhaolou scoffed.
“Don’t bother with him. The brat’s better at judging people than ghosts are. If he thinks that woman is good, then she’s probably not bad. Let him do as he likes.”