She could guess who these two were.
He Jinqi and Li Jun—both had known the female lead since childhood.
Especially He Jinqi, who had once been deeply devoted to her. When the female lead was still young, these two families held much higher status than the Lin family and could offer her considerable support. But as the Lin family rose in power and the female lead met more young nobles and ladies from prestigious households, the He and Li families gradually became insignificant and faded from the storyline.
Yet outside the original plot, these two were actually the ones humiliating her younger brother like this.
“Brother?”
He Jinqi and Li Jun both froze, completely unable to process what they had just heard.
Not just them—even Ye Weiqing himself did not understand what she meant.
When Ye Yunmian had gone to the borderlands, Ye Weiqing was still an infant. Over the years, they had only communicated through letters, so he had no idea what his elder sister even looked like.
Moreover, the eldest daughter of the Ye family—someone of such status—should never appear in this dusty, disheveled state while leading a donkey.
“Where did this madwoman come from? What nonsense are you spouting? Get lost—”
Li Jun had no patience, especially after being coldly dismissed by Lin Mianmian earlier. Frustrated, he frowned and snapped at her.
“Smack—”
Before he could finish, Ye Yunmian suddenly raised her hand and slapped both of them.
Neither of them had expected to be struck—especially not by a random woman who had just appeared out of nowhere.
Instantly, both erupted in rage and moved to strike back.
“Think carefully. If you dare land that hand on me, tomorrow I will enter the palace and ask His Majesty whether my father’s sacrifice on the battlefield was not loyal enough—such that petty scoundrels like you dare to recklessly plot against the lives of my Ye family!”
Ye Yunmian’s voice rang out clearly and forcefully, her spine straight, her presence unyielding. The mocking chill in her gaze made both men’s expressions change.
“Who exactly are you?!” He Jinqi exclaimed.
A member of the Ye family? Since when did the Ye family have such a woman?
“You… are you the eldest daughter of the Ye family?!”
He Jinqi suddenly realized.
Having dealt with Ye Weiqing before, he naturally knew that he had an elder sister.
Rumor had it that when the Ye family’s eldest daughter was born, news of the former Duke’s great military victory reached the capital, and the Emperor was overjoyed, sending endless rewards into the Ye household. Even the former Empress often summoned members of the Ye family into the palace with the young lady. At that time, with the Ye family’s status, all noble children in the capital revolved around her.
Unfortunately, the former Duke was assassinated and died on the battlefield, and the Duchess soon followed. The eldest daughter then left the capital.
Three years ago, the Empress Dowager had even arranged a marriage for her…
Logically, someone with an imperial marriage decree should have long since returned to the capital to express gratitude and complete the engagement. Yet she had never appeared, and imperial summons had been sent repeatedly to the borderlands without response.
And now, this long-missing woman had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
He Jinqi’s hand froze in mid-air, ultimately not daring to strike.
They understood clearly: bullying Ye Weiqing was easy because he was timid and weak-willed. But if they struck the Ye family’s eldest daughter the moment she appeared, the situation would become impossible to resolve.
“Ah, so it is Miss Ye. I, He, was disrespectful,” He Jinqi said awkwardly as he withdrew his hand. Then he turned to Ye Weiqing. “Weiqing, quickly explain to Miss Ye.”
Ye Weiqing was still completely dazed, as though a cannon had gone off in his head.
That woman… was his sister?
The sister who had been living at the borderlands all these years, living freely and unrestrained?
And now she had seen him in such a miserable state.
But under He Jinqi’s pressure, he stammered nervously, “It, it’s a misunderstanding… they were just joking with me… Sister, why did you return to the capital? I haven’t received any of your letters in three years, and even Uncle said he didn’t know where you went. I thought…”
He thought she had run away because she disliked the imperial marriage decree.
His voice was soft and uncertain, his head lowered, expression timid and cautious.
Ye Yunmian did not scold him, because she understood how he had become this way.
In the original plot, after their parents died, Ye Weiqing was raised by their step-grandmother. That woman believed he had been mischievous since childhood and raised him with extreme “strictness.” Though he was a young master of the Duke’s household, he was constantly constrained and reprimanded, growing up under pressure and fear. As a result, he became submissive, never daring to resist, always smiling apologetically at everyone.
Their eldest brother was only slightly older and could not take care of him either.
Back then, their uncle had wanted to take all the siblings away together, but since the eldest brother had already inherited the dukedom, he had to remain. The second and third sons were also male heirs, and at that time their uncle was only a low-ranking military officer—he had no power to contend with the Duke’s household.
In the end, he could only take her away.
“Something happened on the way back, so I was delayed,” Ye Yunmian said, glancing at the two men. “Since it was a misunderstanding, let it go. I am new here—surely you don’t mind my earlier rudeness?”
“Miss Ye jokes,” He Jinqi replied stiffly, clearly uncomfortable.
“Brother, how much silver did you bring? You should properly apologize to these two gentlemen on my behalf,” she continued casually.
“Elder sister, don’t worry. I withdrew eight hundred taels today,” Ye Weiqing hurriedly replied.
The sixteen-year-old looked far from lively—almost old and cautious like a small elder.
He had failed to obtain the White Essence Medicine Pagoda and knew he would likely be bullied today, so he had brought extra money when leaving the house.
Although the household accounts were managed by the matriarch, their parents had left behind considerable private assets, and she did not interfere with those funds.
“Eight hundred taels? That is indeed quite a lot. You often treat these two gentlemen?” Ye Yunmian asked lightly.
“I don’t see them that often—maybe three to five times a month…”
“And each time, you pay?” she pressed calmly.
Ye Weiqing was flustered. “How could I let others pay? Sister, Father and Mother left us plenty of silver…”
“Today has truly opened my eyes,” Ye Yunmian said coolly. “Since ancient times, proper friendships have always been based on courtesy and propriety. I’ve never seen anyone who specifically targets one person to exploit. It seems we still have a debt to settle.”
Ye Weiqing froze. “Sister…”
She glanced at him briefly.
The pressure of an older sister instantly descended, making him swallow his words nervously.
In the letters over the years, she had often sent him books and required him to memorize them. Every time he received them, he had felt immense pressure.
Now, under that gaze, he immediately recalled the fear of being dominated by stacks of books.
Without realizing it, he shut his mouth.
At that moment, he was even more certain—
This person really was his sister. No doubt about it.