Auntie was furious. Her beautiful face was a mask of frost, the kind that no amount of coaxing could melt.
Second Uncle's scalp tingled. "Ningyan, if you have silver to help out the family, that's great—why waste it on flashy things like this?" He was trying to diss his nephew to win back his wife's favor.
Xu Lingyue said coolly, "We're not short of food or clothes. Father's meals even include Big Brother's grain allowance."
Second Uncle was choked silent by his daughter. "Where did you get the silver, Ningyan?"
"I noticed Sister's jewelry was too cheap, so I saved up. Then there was the half-price riddle game at the Treasure Vessels Pavilion…"
He couldn't very well admit he'd gotten it for free.
Xu Lingyue's hand trembled slightly as she held her bowl. Her heart melted. In this family, only Big Brother truly cared about her.
"Big Brother, does it look pretty?" She pinned the golden swaying hairpin into her hair. Candlelight played on her delicate features and bright, lively eyes.
Auntie grew even more jealous.
Xu Qian felt a pang of envy too. He glanced at Xu Xinnian to his left—dark blue robe, glossy black hair tied with a jade pin, impeccably handsome. Then at his sister, now glowing with the hairpin, and at Auntie, the full-figured beauty.
*Everyone in this family looks like they've been kissed by angels. Am I the only plain one?*
His envy evaporated when he saw the little bean whose features looked suspiciously like Second Uncle's.
"Here, Lingyin, have some meat." He placed a fatty piece on her plate, then served Xu Lingyue a lean cut.
"Big Brother is so nice."
"Big Brother finds you the most pleasing to the eye."
"Then why didn't you save me earlier?"
"Only those who endure the harshest hardships can become the greatest masters."
"Is there a way to become invincible without hardship?"
"Yes. In your dreams."
…
When the meal was nearly over, Auntie remarked casually, "After the New Year, Ningyan will be twenty, won't he?"
"Oh, Auntie actually remembers my age?" Xu Qian feigned surprise.
Auntie gave him a tsundere snort and turned to Second Uncle. "Master, we need to arrange a marriage for Ningyan."
Xu Lingyue and Xu Xinnian looked up simultaneously.
Xu Qian stared blankly for a few seconds before it sank in. *The wicked Auntie actually cares about my wedding? Is the sun going to rise from the west tomorrow?*
Marriage was a grand affair: three letters, six rites, eight-bearer sedan chairs—all of it silver.
"I think Lü E would be fine," Auntie continued. "She grew up in the household, and she and Ningyan have known each other since childhood."
*And she wouldn't cost a fortune.* Auntie was still Auntie.
The demure Lü E let out a soft "Ah," her cheeks flushing crimson. Love had arrived like a tornado, sweeping her off her feet.
Xu Lingyue looked at the maid who suddenly seemed to pale in comparison. "Mother, don't make decisions on your own. Big Brother's marriage is between him and Father."
The subtext: *Mother, do you even know your standing in his heart?*
Auntie snapped, "Ningyan and Lü E are a perfect match. What business is it of yours as a sister?"
*Knowing each other well is taking it too far.* Xu Qian was about to object when his younger brother spoke up.
Xu Xinnian said, "Mother thinks that if Lü E marries Big Brother, we save on the bride-price, and it gives us a reason to have him move out."
Direct hit.
"You child—you've never known how to hold your tongue," Auntie snapped.
Second Uncle delivered the final verdict. "Enough. Until Ningyan reaches the Qi Refining realm, he won't be pursuing any woman."
Lü E's face fell. Aside from the mistress who had raised her, the whole family opposed the match.
…
After dinner, Second Uncle visited the Imperial Blade Guard headquarters, then returned to the study to discuss plans with his nephew and son.
When he entered his room, he found his wife sitting on the bed, still fuming.
"Are you really still angry?" he asked, exasperated.
"That little brat has no conscience at all. When I took him from you, he was as small as a kitten. Who raised him? Who fed him? And what does he do? Just keeps pissing me off."
She was still muttering when she saw her husband pull a wooden box from his robe and hand it to her. The box was engraved with "Treasure Vessels Pavilion."
"Ningyan asked me to give it to you," Second Uncle said wearily. "You two never admit defeat to each other."
Auntie hurriedly opened the box. Inside lay a golden swaying hairpin—heavier and more exquisitely crafted than her daughter's.
She clutched it like a treasure, tiptoed to the bronze mirror, and put it on. An oval face gave women a dignified air, but a pointed face lent charm—and once she married, that charm became sheer beauty. Auntie was the latter type.
She gazed at her reflection, pleased. "That little bastard does have some conscience after all."
Second Uncle stood by the window, staring out at the quiet courtyard, his hand resting on the standard-issue saber of the Imperial Blade Guard.
…
The night passed without incident. Second Uncle and Xu Qian, who had lain awake the entire time, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
At dawn, Xu Lingyue pushed open her window as usual, stretching her slender form in the crisp morning air.
"Miss, what are you looking at?"
"Nothing."
"Miss, are you waiting for something?"
"Not waiting for anything."
"Miss, please come and get ready."
"I know… you're so annoying."
Second Uncle left to muster his Imperial Blade Guard unit. Xu Qian went out to hire a carriage. Xu Xinnian stayed home supervising the servants.
By noon, two carriages and several dozen riders passed through the city gates, heading northwest toward the White Deer Academy.
The carriages moved slowly. It took two full hours to reach the foot of Qingyun Mountain.
The three Xu men exhaled simultaneously.
"Were we being overly paranoid?" Second Uncle frowned.
Xu Xinnian said calmly, "If the ones who followed Big Brother were from the Zhou family, they've already missed two prime opportunities to strike."
He paused. "Or perhaps, in Vice Minister Zhou's eyes, we're just ants he can crush whenever he pleases. He has bigger troubles entangling him."
"There's one thing we must face," Xu Qian said gravely. "If Vice Minister Zhou isn't eliminated, we're dead for sure."
Xu Lingyin's cheerful laughter interrupted them. She poked her head out of the carriage curtain, eyes bright as she took in the countryside.
Xu Qian pointed to the distant silhouette of the White Deer Academy's buildings. "Do you know what that place is?"
"No, Big Brother." She giggled, her round face like an apple.
"That's Second Brother's academy."
The word "academy" made her face cloud with alarm.
Xu Qian nodded solemnly. "We're sending you there to study. You'll never be allowed to come home again."
The smile on the little bean's face melted away. She quietly shrank back into the carriage. Seconds later, a howl of tears erupted.
"Mother, I don't want to go to the academy! I don't want to study!"
"Quiet! Your brother is lying to you."
"Why did he lie to me?"
"Because he's a little bastard."
Xu Qian's mood improved instantly.
At the foot of the mountain, they climbed the steps. Xu Qian and Xu Cijiu went to visit Zhang Shen, but were greeted by Li Mubai instead.
"Where is our teacher?" Xu Cijiu asked.
"Secluded in meditation." Li Mubai gave Xu Qian a subtle glance. "I've already arranged a courtyard for you."
Xu Cijiu bowed. "My sister is at the age of enlightenment. Might the academy allow her to study here for a while?"
The request was reasonable. If it had been Xu Lingyue, the academy would have refused. But Xu Lingyin was a five-year-old child. Scholars didn't object to educating young children—they even encouraged it. It was simply that ordinary families couldn't afford schooling.
Li Mubai nodded.
…
Two days passed in a blur. That morning, Xu Cijiu—who had been catching up with classmates—Second Uncle Xu—who had been gathering intelligence—and Xu Qian—who had spent three consecutive days without visiting the pleasure houses—converged in the study.
Lü E had accompanied them to the White Deer Academy. None of the three men wanted to serve tea.
For the first time, they pooled their intelligence, ready to formulate a plan to deal with Zhou Li.