Ye Jinyun had always thought highly of her eldest brother.
When she had first been reborn into this body, she was still very young and had just lost her mother.
Her father doted on Madam Yang and elevated her to the position of principal wife. To curry favor with Madam Yang, no one in the residence treated Ye Jinyun kindly. Even the maids and servants would secretly bully her, sometimes refusing to give her food or water.
When Ye Huaibo learned of it, he punished the servants who had mistreated her and even tried to persuade Madam Yang to treat her better.
Though Madam Yang was displeased that her own son was siding with an outsider, she feared driving him away from her. Thus, she put on a show of kindness. She no longer allowed the servants to bully Ye Jinyun openly, though she would occasionally make things difficult for her and quietly reduce the supplies allocated to her courtyard.
To Ye Jinyun, Ye Huaibo was the only true family she had after being reborn into this world. Aside from Qing’er, he was the only person she genuinely cared about.
Before leaving home to further his studies, Ye Huaibo had worried that his mother and younger sister would mistreat Ye Jinyun in his absence. He had specifically urged Madam Yang not to treat her harshly for the sake of the family’s reputation, ensuring that Ye Jinyun’s life in the Ye Residence would not be too difficult.
Looking at the handsome young man before her—travel-worn yet still carrying an extraordinary elegance—Ye Jinyun curtsied and smiled.
“Yun’er greets Elder Brother. Was your journey smooth?”
Ye Huaibo had spotted her among the crowd long ago. Seeing that she appeared healthy and well, he felt relieved. It seemed that during the three years he had been away, she had not suffered much mistreatment in the residence.
He nodded and replied gently, his voice as warm as a spring breeze,
“Everything went well. Don’t worry, Yun’er.”
The brother and sister looked at each other and smiled.
Back in the main hall, everyone surrounded Ye Huaibo, bombarding him with questions. It was only when he finally admitted defeat and said that he was covered in dust from traveling and needed to bathe and change clothes that they reluctantly let him go.
At dinner time, to celebrate both Ye Jinyun and Ye Jinrong being selected and Ye Huaibo’s return home, Father Ye ordered a grand feast to be prepared.
The family chatted happily throughout the banquet, and the atmosphere was lively and harmonious.
Because Ye Huaibo had returned, Ye Jinyun was in exceptionally good spirits and drank several extra cups of wine. By the end of the feast, she felt a little dizzy, so Qing’er helped her take a walk in the garden to clear her head.
After strolling leisurely around the garden, mistress and maid eventually arrived at the pond.
The wine had left Ye Jinyun somewhat unsteady on her feet, and the darkness made it difficult to see. Suddenly, she stepped on a small stone and lost her balance.
At the same time, an alarm sounded in her mind.
[Beep. Beep. Host has stepped on a stone and is about to fall into the pond. Automatic Evasion Mode activated.]
Yet even as her body reacted automatically, she found herself falling into a warm embrace carrying the faint scent of cedar.
The familiar scent made her instinctively relax.
It’s Big Brother.
Sure enough, the person who caught her was Ye Huaibo.
Holding her steady, he sighed.
“You, honestly. You never watch where you’re going. Still as reckless as ever. If I hadn’t noticed during the banquet that you seemed slightly drunk and followed you out because I was worried, you’d probably be a drenched rat by now.”
After regaining her footing, Ye Jinyun stuck out her tongue playfully.
“Big Brother is right. From now on, I’ll keep my eyes glued to the road whenever I walk.”
Ye Huaibo laughed helplessly.
Under the moonlight, his gentle, jade-like features looked especially handsome.
Reaching out, he lightly flicked her nose. Yet a trace of worry lingered on his refined face.
“What’s wrong, Big Brother?” Ye Jinyun asked. “Is something troubling you?”
“I’m worried about you.”
Ye Huaibo sighed.
“I’ve been away from home for three years. The moment I returned, I heard that both you and Rong’er had been selected to enter the Imperial Palace. Rong’er will be fine enough. Father and Mother would never allow her to suffer. But once you’re in the palace, who will look after you? What are you supposed to do then?”
He paused before continuing.
“Father naturally hopes that both you and Rong’er will bring honor and prosperity to the Ye family through your positions in the palace. But the harem is filled with countless consorts. Open and hidden battles never cease there. It is a lifelong cage for women. How could it possibly be a good place to spend one’s life?
“I always hoped you would one day marry into an ordinary family, live in harmony with your husband, and enjoy a peaceful life together. Yet fate has played its tricks, and things have turned out this way.”
Ye Jinyun looked at the bright-eyed young man before her and felt deeply moved.
Only her eldest brother truly cared about her and thought about her future.
Although Ye Jinrong was his biological sister from the same mother, throughout their childhood Ye Huaibo had treated Ye Jinyun far better and felt much closer to her.
Wrapping her arms around his, Ye Jinyun leaned her head against his shoulder just as she had when she was a child.
“Thank you, Big Brother. You’ve always been so good to me.”
She smiled softly.
“Don’t worry. Yun’er can take care of herself.”
Ye Huaibo raised a hand and lightly tapped her forehead.
Shaking his head, he said nothing.
After enjoying the cool night breeze and chatting for a while longer, most of the alcohol had left Ye Jinyun’s system.
She stood and prepared to leave.
Before departing, she leaned close to Ye Huaibo’s ear and whispered,
“Big Brother, come to my courtyard tomorrow. I have a secret I want to tell you.”
With that, she waved goodbye and left with Qing’er.
Ye Huaibo frowned slightly as he watched her retreating figure disappear into the distance.
A secret?
What secret could his little sister possibly have?