Hearing Tong Anying’s inner voice, Tong Fengye shot straight out of his seat. He rolled up his sleeves, looking ready to throw hands then and there.
Tong Anying was awestruck. Even if Third Brother’s grades are in the gutter, he truly is a stand-up guy!
Tong Fengye was practically moved to tears. His little sister was finally praising him!
The more she praised him, the more pumped up he became. He coiled like a primed spring, just waiting for Cui Heng to cross the threshold so he could plant a resounding slap across the man’s face.
Yet when the door swung open, Tong Fengye froze, staring at Cui Heng and the woman clinging tightly to his arm. Which one was he supposed to hit first?
Or should he just beat them both?
Tong Fengye cracked his knuckles, itching for action.
Cui Heng had never imagined he would run into Tong Siyuan here. Flustered, he wrenched himself free from the woman to distance himself, stammering, “Yanyan, what are you doing here?”
Tong Siyuan arched a delicate brow. “Isn’t this private dining room reserved specifically for the Tong Household by Zuixiang Pavilion? Where else would I be?”
“No, that’s not what I meant.” Cui Heng stepped toward her, attempting to clasp her hand, only for Tong Siyuan to dodge him with a frosty detachment. A fleeting glint of malice flashed across Cui Heng’s eyes before he masked it, pleading, “I only—”
Tong Siyuan had no intention of hearing him out.
Rising gracefully, she walked up to the woman who had entered on Cui Heng’s arm. Feigning surprise, she asked, “What brings Cousin here as well?”
Cheng Wenmiao’s heart skipped a beat. Lowering her gaze, she murmured meekly, “I merely came here for a meal and happened to bump into my cousin. Sister-in-law, please rest assured, I didn’t mean to walk in together with him.”
What an absolute green tea b*tch.
Tong Anying ambled over holding a teacup and handed it to Tong Siyuan. “Second Sister, try this year’s freshly harvested tea. The fragrance is divine.”
Tong Siyuan accepted it with a smile. After taking an elegant sip, she looked Cheng Wenmiao up and down. “Of course, I know you didn’t mean to.”
“Yanyan.” Cui Heng stepped in front of Tong Siyuan, deftly shielding Cheng Wenmiao behind his back. “Since Father-in-law and Mother-in-law are here as well, I shall take the liberty of joining you.”
You know you’re intruding, yet you still have the nerve to mooch off our meal? Shameless scoundrel!
Su Zhouyue bit back a smirk. Her daughter truly was a treasure.
Cui Heng turned slightly, shooting Cheng Wenmiao a subtle sidelong glance.
Cheng Wenmiao took the hint and hastily piped up, “I wouldn’t want to disturb Cousin and Sister-in-law. I’ll be taking my leave—”
“Wait a moment,” Su Zhouyue interjected, rising to her feet. “I have long heard of Miss Cheng’s renowned grace. Running into each other today is a pleasant coincidence, why not sit and dine with us?”
Mother, just let her go!
Not a chance!
Su Zhouyue wanted nothing more than to thoroughly put Cheng Wenmiao and Cui Heng in their places.
If this tigress didn’t show her claws, did they take Su Zhouyue for a harmless kitten?
Host, Host! Cheng Wenmiao’s secret lover just came upstairs!
Her lover? Holy mother of drama, things are getting spicy!
The eyes of the entire Tong family lit up in unison. Cheng Wenmiao actually had a side piece?
Su Zhouyue executed an instantaneous pivot. “On second thought, since Miss Cheng clearly has other business, I won’t keep you.”
Cheng Wenmiao: “?”
When had she ever said she had other business?
Still, escaping this room was for the best.
Curtseying politely, Cheng Wenmiao retreated toward the door.
Tong Anying volunteered enthusiastically, “I’ll go tell the manager to serve the dishes!”
Cui Heng had intended to curry favor by offering to do it himself, but Tong Anying slipped right past him with a nimble pivot, heading straight for the threshold.
Thwarted, Cui Heng was forced to drink his tea in gloomy silence, sneaking periodic glances at Tong Siyuan across the table.
He had been walking arm-in-arm with Cheng Wenmiao earlier; he wasn’t sure if Tong Siyuan had seen it.
Then again, even if she had, it hardly mattered. Tong Siyuan was gentle and submissive by nature; she would never dare make a scene or argue with him. Which meant he could easily—
His pleasant reverie was abruptly shattered by Tong Anying’s voice.
Peeking out the door, Tong Anying called out innocently, “Brother-in-law, it looks like your cousin just ran into an old acquaintance.”
“Just an acquaintance, that’s all. My cousin has always been very sociable—”
“It’s a man.”
Cui Heng stiffened. “!”
He bolted up and hurried to the door, only to see Cheng Wenmiao entangled in an intense push-and-pull with an unfamiliar young man out in the hallway.
Listen close, that’s the sound of a fragile little heart shattering into pieces.
Cui Heng’s fists clenched until his knuckles turned white.
Keeping his voice under control, he said, “Fourth Sister, I’ll go check on things. Such domestic trivialities shouldn’t keep Father-in-law and Mother-in-law waiting on an empty stomach. Please, go ahead and eat without me.”
“Oh, okay.”
Tong Anying nodded with the picture of obedience.
Cui Heng assumed she had bought it. But the moment he turned and marched toward Cheng Wenmiao, seven heads poked out of the private room in a neat vertical row to watch the show.
Tong Baibo gave a dry cough. “Close the door. Time to eat.”
Tong Fengye and Tong Yibin each took one side and pulled the doors shut.
As Cui Heng grabbed Cheng Wenmiao’s wrist out in the corridor, he glanced back over his shoulder. Seeing the door firmly shut, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Cheng Wenmiao sure has guts, Tong Anying marveled inwardly. Dining with Cui Heng while simultaneously scheduling a rendezvous with her side piece!
Su Zhouyue looked toward Tong Siyuan.
Tong Siyuan blinked innocently, placed a braised rib onto Su Zhouyue’s plate, and smiled softly. “Mother, do try this. It’s delicious.”
Su Zhouyue was now dead certain that the secret lover had been arranged by Tong Siyuan.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. This second daughter’s delightfully black-bellied nature was truly cut from her own cloth!
Tong Fengye, on the other hand, was deeply aggrieved that he hadn’t landed a fist on Cui Heng. “Second Sister, are you really planning to stay married to that bastard?”
The moment he asked, all eyes around the table locked onto Tong Siyuan. Even little fifth sat clutching her rice bowl, staring at her unblinkingly.
Tong Siyuan replied with serene calm, “I’m done with him.”
“Then tomorrow, Eldest Brother and I will accompany you to the Cui Manor to demand a divorce!”
“No need to rush,” Tong Siyuan murmured, her expression gentle and poised. “Cui Heng and Cheng Wenmiao have quite a storm ahead of them. That household is about to descend into absolute bedlam.”
Looking at Tong Siyuan’s gentle smile, Tong Fengye suddenly shivered.
Why did he get the chilling feeling that offending his second sister would result in a horrific death?
Tong Anying felt the exact same way. Cui Heng, my condolences. May you rest in pieces.
Tong Fengye mentally held a moment of silence for him as well.
Tong Yibin, who rarely spoke, suddenly chimed in: “It is good that you have a plan.”
Because their eldest brother was a man of few words, Tong Siyuan wasn’t quite sure what he was getting at. “Eldest Brother, what do you suggest?”
Tong Yibin offered a faint, chilling smile. “Since the Cui family has wronged you, we might as well dig up a few criminal charges on them.”
Tong Anying sucked in a sharp breath.
Holy smokes! This is literally Second Sister committing the murder while Eldest Brother hands her the blade!
Flanked by these two black-sesame-filled glutinous rice balls, the innocent little mochi dumplings sitting between them—herself, Tong Fengye, and Tong Yi’an looked utterly simple-minded by comparison.
Tong Siyuan instructed softly, “Focus on eating your dinner.”
Tong Anying whimpered into her bowl.
By the time the Tong family finished their meal and vacated the private room, Cui Heng had not returned.
Tong Siyuan couldn’t care less.
Feeling weightless and refreshed, she listened to Tong Fengye recount his hilarious feud with Feng Chu on the carriage ride home, chuckling the entire way. By the time Tong Fengye hopped out of the carriage, his face was beet red from embarrassment.
As they stepped through the front courtyard, Uncle Zhao hurried over to greet them. “Marquis, an imperial envoy has arrived from the palace to deliver an edict.”
Tong Baibo halted. “At this hour?”
“Yes, My Lord.”
“Who is it?”
“Eunuch Wang.”
That was the personal head eunuch serving directly at the Emperor’s side.
Tong Baibo’s expression turned grave. He strode forward briskly, with Su Zhouyue and the children trailing behind him.
Eunuch Wang was sipping tea in the courtyard. Seeing them approach, he stood. “Ah, the Marquis has returned.”
“Apologies for keeping the Eunuch waiting,” Tong Baibo replied courteously.
“Think nothing of it, Marquis. It is merely my duty.”
Eunuch Wang unrolled the imperial decree, and the entire household dropped to their knees to receive it.
Having heard Anying’s frantic thought that morning about the entire family being demoted and exiled because he offended the Emperor, Tong Baibo’s heart was drumming nervously against his ribs.
Yet during morning court, he had barely uttered two sentences! He had taken Anying and his wife’s advice to heart, minding his words with absolute discretion. How could this still be happening?
Tong Anying was internally screaming.
No way! No freaking way! Are we really this unlucky?
Eunuch Wang paused. What was that sound?
Having served by His Majesty’s side for well over a decade, he had weathered all sorts of grand storms. Maintaining his composure, he continued reciting the decree:
“The fourth daughter of the Tong family, endowed with graceful intellect and steadfast fortitude, is hereby specially bestowed an imperial jade ruyi scepter.”
Huh?
Wait, it’s for me?
Again?
Eunuch Wang remained completely impassive, his sharp eyes quietly surveying everyone present.
“Fourth Young Miss,” he announced, “come forward to receive the decree and express your gratitude.”
Snapped back to reality, Tong Anying raised both hands respectfully. “Your humble subject thanks His Majesty for his profound grace!”
Wait, why does that inner voice sound identical to this young miss’s voice?
Eunuch Wang handed the imperial decree and the lustrous jade ruyi to Tong Anying.
Her eyes went as round as saucers. Holy moly, that is some generational wealth right here!
It really is her! It was this fourth young miss all along!
This matter was of monumental significance; Eunuch Wang knew he had to report it to His Majesty the moment he returned to the palace.
Tong Baibo escorted Eunuch Wang out to the gates.
Eunuch Wang remarked politely, “The Marquis need not fret. His Majesty sees all of your dedicated service. Learning that the Fourth Young Miss had fallen ill, His Majesty merely wished to show his favor.”
Tong Baibo bowed. “I understand. Safe travels, Eunuch.”
Returning inside, Tong Baibo was greeted by the sight of Tong Anying beaming from ear to ear as she cradled the jade ruyi against her chest. He couldn’t help but chuckle.
Su Zhouyue asked, “What did Eunuch Wang say?”
“Merely an imperial commendation from His Majesty.”
Su Zhouyue exhaled in relief. She had genuinely feared the Emperor was using this as an excuse to warn them.
Tong Anying looked up, eyes sparkling. “Then Father, this jade ruyi.”
“Since His Majesty bestowed it upon you, it naturally belongs to you.”
Yaaay!
I’m gonna cuddle it to sleep tonight!
“You will do no such thing,” Su Zhouyue scolded lightly, tapping Tong Anying on the head. “It’s freezing cold jade! What if you catch a chill all over again?”
“Oh.”
Tong Anying set the ruyi down with immense reluctance.
Wait a minute, how did Mother know what I was thinking?
Su Zhouyue poked her in the forehead. “You came from my own belly; do you really think you can hide your little schemes from me?”
“Ow, ow, ow!”
Tong Anying rubbed her forehead. Now she finally understood where the red welt on Tong Baibo’s head had come from.
“Young maidens are always so thin-skinned. Where does it hurt? Go on, off to bed, all of you.”
It genuinely hurts, though!
Tong Anying picked up her jade ruyi and turned to leave, only to be stopped by Tong Siyuan.
Taking Tong Anying and Tong Fengye by their hands, Tong Siyuan said softly, “Today was meant to be a celebration for the two of you, yet Second Sister ended up spoiling it.”
Tong Anying shook her head. “What are you saying, Second Sister? Aren’t we family?”
Tong Fengye nodded vigorously. “Exactly! That Cui Heng is the only outsider here.”
Tong Yi’an bounded over and grabbed the hem of Tong Siyuan’s gown with both hands. Her eyes were huge, bright, and crystal clear.
Looking down at her, Tong Siyuan’s heart melted.
Tong Yi’an shook her little fist fiercely. “Second Sister, you should beat that Cui Heng up!”
Tong Siyuan laughed softly. “Our little fifth is quite the fierce one, aren’t you?”
Tong Yi’an huffed proudly.
Patting Tong Yi’an’s head, Tong Siyuan looked at Tong Fengye and Tong Anying. “Second Sister will make it up to you two another day.”
“Why wait for another day? How about tomorrow, Second Sister?” Tong Fengye suggested eagerly.
Tong Baibo remarked drily from behind them, “Dead last in your class, and you still have the nerve to ask for two banquets?”
Tong Fengye froze, slowly turning around. “Wait, hold on, Father! You already gave me a thrashing earlier, you can’t hit me twice!”
“You little—”
By the time Tong Baibo reached for him, Tong Fengye had already dashed into the distance.
Terrified of getting caught in the crossfire, Tong Anying grabbed Tong Siyuan with one hand and Tong Yi’an with the other. “Let’s go catch fireflies!”
With that, she sprinted away as well.
Su Zhouyue chuckled, resting a hand on Tong Baibo’s shoulder. “Anying comes up with the wildest ideas. Where on earth are they going to find fireflies in the middle of spring?”
Curious, Su Zhouyue and Tong Baibo strolled over to the pavilion by the pond, only to see the three sisters, heads pressed close together, staring up at the starry sky in absolute, bewildered silence.