Chapter 32

Prince Yue returned to the capital, welcomed by the Crown Prince and all the officials. Yan Yiming and Jian Yuyan sat in a teahouse overlooking the main street, which had been cleared of ordinary passersby. Despite this, wealthy idlers still crowded both sides, eager to catch a glimpse of the Crown Prince and Prince Yue.
In the adjacent pavilion, a few scholars were likely seated, now loudly discussing how the Crown Prince personally welcomed Prince Yue, showing the deep bond between brothers. They also mentioned that with Prince Yue and General Shao in Beiping, the Chenxia dynasty was truly as stable as Mount Tai.
Jian Yuyan heard this and merely smiled faintly. The relationship between the Crown Prince and Prince Yue had long been muddled over a woman.
Whether it was the words Yan Yiming once shared with him or the fact that after Yan Yiming's death, Nan Gongye did not blame Nan Gongxuan but instead requested to leave the capital as a feudal lord, all pointed to the suspicious nature of Yan Yiming's death.
Jian Yuyan roughly surmised that Prince Yue probably knew the cause of Yan Yiming's death, while the Crown Prince genuinely believed all along that Yan Yiming had died because of him.
The two had reached a strange harmony. Now, when they met, they acted as loving brothers, earning everyone's praise.
Although she no longer cared about being seen with Yan Yiming's appearance, Yan Yiming herself wore a veil. She said that since she and Jian Yuyan were siblings, it would be troublesome if others found out.
Jian Yuyan couldn't find a single flaw in her thoughtfulness. In the morning, sitting by and watching Yan Yiming do her makeup, he felt a sense of peaceful contentment, as if time had stood still. He stood up, took the eyebrow pigment from Yan Yiming's hand, and offered to draw her eyebrows. Yan Yiming handed it over reluctantly, saying, “If you mess it up, I'll...”
Jian Yuyan gently lifted her chin with one hand, skillfully tracing a light stroke, and teased with a smile, “You'll what?”
Yan Yiming obediently held the pose, blinking at him, “I'll make you do my eyebrows every day.”
“Gladly,” Jian Yuyan replied with a smile, carefully examining the lightly drawn brows before releasing her. “Take a look, how are they?”
The reflection in the bronze mirror was somewhat blurry, but it was clear that Jian Yuyan had drawn the delicate “Qiuniang” brows perfectly, enhancing the delicate beauty of her face. Satisfied, Yan Yiming kissed him on the cheek, only to be caught by him in a long, deep kiss before he finally let her go, and they left the plum garden together.
Now, the distant sound of hoofbeats broke through the noise of Jinling's long street. The scholars nearby finally stopped their loud discussions and turned to look in the direction of the hoofbeats.
The aura of the northern frontier, carrying its harsh and solemn air, suddenly filled the gentle lands of the south.
As the hoofbeats drew closer, Yan Yiming looked up and saw the leader astride a tall horse, dressed in black robes and soft armor, his posture upright and powerful. His hands gripped the reins firmly, his dark hair tied under a silver crown, revealing his strikingly handsome features.
That face bore an increasing resemblance to Nan Gongxuan, yet it was not entirely the same.
Two years had been enough to strip all traces of youth from the young man. The battles of the north had honed him into a sharp and imposing figure, and in that moment, it seemed no familiar traces remained.
In her memory, the boy who would blush at her teasing and cry red-eyed when she left still seemed vivid before her eyes. Yet upon meeting again, he had changed. Yan Yiming gazed at Nan Gongye, who had now taken on the form of a man, and suddenly felt a bit dazed.
As if sensing something, Nan Gongye glanced toward the teahouse on his left, locking eyes with a veiled woman who was watching him.
Nan Gongye felt the woman’s gaze was distant yet steady, and there was something familiar about her brows and eyes. When he spotted Jian Yuyan beside her, Nan Gongye raised a hand in a casual greeting, his lips curling slightly. His eyes swept indifferently over the woman next to him before he spurred his horse onward without a moment’s pause.
Jian Yuyan chuckled and turned to Yan Yiming. “Prince Yue truly mistook you for my younger sister.”
“Mm,” Yan Yiming responded softly. This face was already strikingly similar to Jian Yu’er’s, and now, appearing right beside Jian Yuyan, even those close to Jian Yu’er might not tell them apart if not for the red mole at the corner of her eye.
Let alone Nan Gongye, who had only glimpsed her from afar.
Not being recognized… was actually for the best.
Much later, the bustling streets of Jinling returned to their usual clamor and liveliness. Yan Yiming removed her veil and savored her tea, not the Huangshan Maofeng that Jian Yuyan preferred, but the Biluochun she often drank.
Jian Yuyan remembered Yan Yiming’s favorite tea, and once again marveled at how much she resembled the late Crown Princess, not just in name and the red mole at the corner of her eye, but also in her love for Biluochun. A playful glint flashed in Yan Yiming’s eyes as she teased him, “You even know what tea she liked, are you sure you didn’t have feelings for her?”
Jian Yuyan gave her waist a gentle pinch and explained helplessly, “It’s not that I remember what tea the Crown Princess liked. It’s that after her death, the Crown Prince never drank any tea other than Biluochun.”
Yan Yiming’s lips parted slightly, perhaps surprised that a man as self-centered as Nan Gongxuan could one day show such subtle signs of affection.
But Nan Gongxuan was in the past after all. The one willing to share Biluochun with her now was not Nan Gongxuan, but Jian Yuyan.
Jian Yuyan stole a half-day of leisure, spending the better part of the afternoon with Yan Yiming in the teahouse, until he was finally summoned by someone from the Eastern Palace. Before leaving, he asked if she wanted him to escort her back.
Noting the flustered, red-faced guard beside him, Yan Yiming played the good soul. “Your duties come first. I’ll sit a while longer and head back later.”
Jian Yuyan whispered in her ear, “Wait for me obediently tonight.”
Yan Yiming’s ears were sensitive; she shivered slightly, shot him a mock glare, and pushed him away. She watched his figure disappear down the stairs before taking out Jian Yuyan’s character card to check the stats.
Jian Yuyan’s favorability had now reached 80%, and various attributes had gradually risen along with it, though his decision-making ability was still climbing slowly.
Yan Yiming couldn’t resist asking Little A, “Was my earlier guess correct? Is Jian Yuyan really the former dynasty’s royal descendant, and not someone else?”
Though spoilers weren’t allowed, since Yan Yiming had already figured it out, Little A didn’t hold back and nodded solemnly in confirmation. “It’s indeed him.”
Yan Yiming looked at the worrying numbers and massaged her forehead. “At this rate, how is Jian Yuyan supposed to compete with Nan Gongxuan?”
Little A fell silent again, refusing to reveal anything. Yan Yiming sighed, tucked the card away, and left the teahouse. As she stepped outside, she unexpectedly bumped into a familiar figure she hadn’t anticipated seeing.
Yan Yiming hadn’t expected to run into Jiang Yi so coincidentally, but upon seeing him now, she didn’t show much surprise. Instead, she smiled gracefully, bowed slightly, and greeted him, “Young Master Jiang.”
“You recognize me,” Jiang Yi remarked with interest.
“I’ve had the chance to meet you once before, and I’ve also heard Young Master Jian mention you,” Yan Yiming replied with a light laugh.
When it was first discovered that Jian Yuyan harbored romantic feelings for Jian Yu’er, even Jiang Yi was taken aback. Yet, he was genuinely astonished that someone could bear such a striking resemblance to Jian Yu’er. If it weren’t for the fact that Jian Yu’er had no biological sisters, one might suspect this woman was a lost daughter of the Jian family.
However, Jiang Yi still vividly remembered how flustered this woman had seemed when she encountered Jian Yu’er at Fuyu Mountain. Seeing her now, she showed none of that previous discomposure and even calmly brought up Jian Yuyan.
Moreover, Yan Yiming referred to the time she had run into him and Jian Yu’er at Fuyu Temple, but she hadn’t recognized him then. How could she know it was him, and not someone else, accompanying Jian Yu’er that day? And he had never forgotten the sudden smile she had flashed when she turned around that day. Jiang Yi was certain she had recognized him all along, even knowing he would be there.
But now, Yan Yiming made no mention of the incident, acting as if she were a completely different person. Gazing at her familiar features, Jiang Yi couldn’t shake off a lingering sense of contradiction and unease.
“You...” Jiang Yi’s eyes remained fixed on Yan Yiming’s face. He wanted to ask if they had met before, but in the end, he held back. These matters could be investigated without asking directly, and besides, Jiang Yi didn’t believe this woman would tell him the truth.
Since Jiang Yi didn’t ask, Yan Yiming saw no need to explain anything. After exchanging a few brief words, she turned and left. Once she was gone, Jiang Yi signaled to his attendant to follow her discreetly. Before long, the servant returned and reported that the young lady had gone straight to the Plum Garden.
The return of Prince Yue to the capital was considered a joyous occasion. The Emperor’s spirits had lifted considerably because of it, and the palace banquet proceeded quite successfully. The only minor hiccup occurred when a high-ranking official attempted to arrange a marriage between Prince Yue and his daughter, only to be politely declined by the prince, who cited the unsettled state of the borderlands as an unsuitable time for marriage.
Both the Empress and the Crown Prince cast complicated glances at Nan Gongye, while the Emperor praised Prince Yue for his ambition.
In high spirits, the Emperor allowed the banquet to continue well into the evening. Just as Jian Yuyan had predicted, it wasn’t until nightfall that he finally appeared at the Plum Garden.
Jian Yuyan had been drinking, quite heavily, in fact. His eyes were slightly dazed, and his speech carried a lazy, intoxicated drawl. After entering the room, he half-reclined on the bed, tilting his head to watch Yan Yiming bustling about as she prepared sobering tea.
Yan Yiming had already finished bathing and was now clad in a thin white inner robe with an outer garment draped over it. Jian Yuyan gazed at her slender neck and cascading hair, and slowly, the wine he had drunk earlier began to smolder like fire in his belly.
Yan Yiming hadn't noticed anything yet. She had read the plot summary earlier that day, which mentioned that Jian Yu’er had been waiting at the Jian residence for Jian Yuyan to return, hoping to talk to him. She had even sent someone to relay a message, but whether Jian Yuyan hadn't seen it or was pretending not to, he hadn't returned to the residence and had come directly here instead.
To be honest, she was a bit surprised. When she handed the sobering tea to Jian Yuyan, she deliberately feigned concern and said, “You were here yesterday, and tonight you're still not returning home. If someone is waiting for you...”
Those who were drunk never liked the taste of sobering tea, and Jian Yuyan was no exception. Moreover, what he wanted to drink at that moment wasn't tea at all. He took a small sip and then tossed the cup aside.
Before Yan Yiming could finish her sentence, Jian Yuyan suddenly pulled her toward him. Caught off guard, Yan Yiming stumbled and collided with him. Jian Yuyan took advantage of the momentum, pulling her onto the bed and wrapping an arm around her slender waist.
“I won't be returning home tonight, and I won't be returning any night from now on,” Jian Yuyan said slowly, his beautiful peach-blossom eyes smiling enchantingly. Gently, he brushed aside the stray strands of hair from Yan Yiming's cheeks, his warm lips tracing a path downward from her lovely almond-shaped eyes.
The thin robes were cast aside, and layers of bed curtains fell, obscuring their figures. In the flickering candlelight, faint, fragmented moans could be heard. Jian Yuyan held Yan Yiming's slightly trembling hand, a light sheen of sweat forming on his forehead.
“A’Ming,” Jian Yuyan called out in a hoarse yet joyful voice. Yan Yiming frowned and pushed him away.
Jian Yuyan chuckled softly and cursed, “You little liar,” before pulling her back into his embrace. Yan Yiming didn't resist. A long while later, Little A emitted a faint notification sound, “Current favorability has reached 90. Host, please continue to work hard...”
Glancing at Yan Yiming, who had already fallen asleep, Little A suddenly felt the phrase was a bit ambiguous and shyly shut its mouth.
Host, please continue to work hard...
Never mind, it's better to sleep early today. We'll continue another day.

Chapter 33

When Jian Yuyan woke up, the bed curtains were still drawn. He lifted a corner of the curtain with his finger, and a sliver of light streamed in, it was already bright outside.
Yan Yiming was not beside him at the moment. The sound of splashing water came from behind the screen, indicating she was bathing. A short while later, Yan Yiming emerged, wringing her hair with a cloth towel. Seeing Jian Yuyan awake, she smiled and asked, “You're awake?”
Jian Yuyan took the towel from her hand and gestured for her to sit in front of the dressing mirror. “Let me do it.”
Yan Yiming obediently sat down.
Jian Yuyan's movements were gentle as he wrapped the towel around her hair, slowly absorbing the moisture. “Why did you wake up so early?”
“I don't know how I woke up,” Yan Yiming replied, gazing contentedly at the reflection in the bronze mirror and narrowing her eyes. “But I don't have anything important to do anyway. If I get tired later, I can just go back to sleep.”
At this, she opened her eyes and glanced at Jian Yuyan again, saying, “It's already mid-morning, and you're still not going back to change your clothes.”
“Someone will bring them over in a while,” Jian Yuyan replied indifferently. Yan Yiming's hair was now half-dry, lying smooth and silky against her back. Setting the towel aside, Jian Yuyan embraced her from behind and whispered in her ear, “Why did you lie to me?”
Yan Yiming played dumb, pretending not to understand. “Lie to you about what?”
Jian Yuyan knew Yan Yiming was deliberately saying this and couldn't help but laugh.
When she had claimed she was no longer a virgin, she had actually been untouched. Burying his face in the crook of her neck, Jian Yuyan whispered after a long moment, “A'Ming, I'm truly happy.”
Yan Yiming wore a faint, ambiguous smile before picking up a comb and slowly running it through her hair. “What if I really hadn't been pure?” she asked softly. “Would you have been disappointed, Brother Yan?”
“No,” he replied. If he would have been disappointed, he wouldn't have been unable to resist touching her the day before. He just hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise. Gently turning her face toward him, he said, “Whether you were or weren't doesn't matter. What matters is that it's you. A'Ming, from now on, could you not call me Brother Yan?”
Yan Yiming paused in her combing. “If not Brother Yan, then what should I call you?”
“Call me by my courtesy name, Zi'an,” he said, leaning in to kiss her. “From now on, only you are allowed to call me that.”
Yan Yiming seemed stunned, frozen in place. Jian Yuyan couldn't help but chuckle at her dazed expression. “What's wrong?”
“I don't dare call you that,” she murmured after a long silence, lowering her head. “I can call you 'Young Master' or 'Brother Yan,' but your courtesy name... that should be reserved for the person who will truly share your life. I'm just an actress.”
Jian Yuyan fell silent for a moment. He carried too many secrets, and some matters were not his to decide alone. But seeing the disappointment on her face, he couldn't bear it. Sighing softly, he pulled her to sit before him and spoke earnestly, “What does being an actress matter? Don't belittle yourself like that. I don't know if there will be such a person in the future, but right now, the only one I want to spend my life with is you.”
“And what about Miss Jian?”
A'Ming had never brought up Jian Yu'er in front of him before. Even when she found out, she had only said she was willing to stay by his side, willing to be the substitute. Her silence wasn't because she didn't care, but because she didn't dare to care.
Jian Yuyan suddenly felt a pang of hatred for his past self. For so long, because of Jian Yu'er, he had unknowingly hurt her deeply.
Fortunately, it wasn't too late. He still had time to make it up to her slowly.
Looking directly into Yan Yiming's eyes, he spoke with unprecedented seriousness, “Jian Yu'er is my sister. She was in the past, and she will be in the future. But now, it's you I like. It has nothing to do with appearances, and I'm not saying this because you look like her. In my eyes, you are just you.”
Tears glistened in Yan Yiming's beautiful eyes as she clutched his sleeve and said solemnly, “Don't make promises lightly. I'll take them seriously.”
“Promises made too easily are never truly promises,” Jian Yuyan grasped her hand firmly in his palm. “I never make promises lightly, so you can take this seriously, I won't let you suffer any more grievances because of me.”
Yan Yiming looked up and met Jian Yuyan's earnest gaze but said nothing. Instead, as if deeply moved, she buried her face in his chest.
As long as Jian Yu’er existed, she would always be wronged. Yan Yiming smiled faintly to herself. Words spoken too absolutely often foreshadow imperfection, but Jian Yuyan seemed unaware of this truth.
After sending someone to deliver a message to Jian Yuyan the previous night, Jian Yu’er had been waiting for his return. Yet, to her surprise, even late into the night, he still hadn't come back.
Had the message not reached him, or had it reached him, but he simply didn't want to return?
Unconsciously, Jian Yu’er had already settled on the latter explanation.
Jian Yuyan knew she was waiting but pretended not to.
Why? Was he avoiding her?
But she had specifically sent someone to deliver the message, yet her brother had still gone to that woman. Could it be that she was no match for that woman?
Jian Yu’er refused to believe it.
After all, that woman bore such a striking resemblance to her. If her brother had taken a liking to her, it was only because of her. As long as she existed, that woman was nothing special. So, if Jian Yuyan still hadn't returned, was it because of the words she had said to him? Was her brother throwing a tantrum?
This thought both angered and amused her. She couldn't fathom that her brother could be so unreasonable. They were siblings, no matter what, such thoughts should never have crossed his mind. Wasn't her refusal the only right thing to do?
How could her brother throw such an unreasonable tantrum?
But then again, he had once asked her what would happen if they weren't siblings.
Jian Yu’er had found herself thinking about that question from time to time over the past couple of days. No matter how she speculated, it couldn't change the fact that they were siblings. Unless...
Jian Yu’er frowned. Could it be that those words held another meaning?
When she went to pay her respects to Lady Jian in the morning, her mother noticed her distracted state and asked what was wrong.
Jian Yu’er glanced at her mother and murmured, “Since childhood, people have said that we mother and daughter look alike, but my brother resembles neither Father nor Mother. Are he and I really...”
Before she could finish, Lady Jian's eyes widened in alarm as she stared intently at her daughter. But Jian Yu’er suddenly stopped mid-sentence, as if snapping back to reality, and hastily explained, “I was just speaking thoughtlessly, Mother. Please don't overthink it.”
Though Jian Yu’er said not to overthink it, her words inevitably stirred suspicion. Some secrets, buried deep for years and known to very few, had suddenly left a trace at this moment.
After Jian Yu’er left, Lady Jian immediately sent for Chancellor Jian. She recounted their daughter's words to him.
Being as astute as he was, Chancellor Jian could tell at once that his daughter must have discovered something.
Without delay, he ordered an investigation into any unusual behavior between Jian Yuyan and Jian Yu’er recently. The spies worked swiftly, and within half a day, they reported that Jian Yuyan had been spending his days with an actress from the Plum Garden. Interestingly, this actress bore an uncanny resemblance to Jian Yu’er, and a few days prior, Yu’er had accidentally encountered this woman.
Thus, it was clear that Yu’er must have realized Jian Yuyan's feelings for her.
Jian Yuyan's feelings for Jian Yu'er might have been hidden from many, but they had never escaped the notice of Chancellor Jian.
Back when Jian Yuyan was still young, the Chancellor had observed his deep affection for Yu'er and had even entertained the idea himself. However, restoring the former dynasty proved far more challenging than anticipated. Nearly two decades had passed, and they were still not fully prepared.
Now that both Jian Yuyan and Jian Yu'er had reached marriageable age, no matter what, the Chancellor did not wish to delay his daughter's future. Moreover, his daughter had become a significant asset in his efforts to build influence.
Thus, the Chancellor could only lament that Jian Yuyan and Jian Yu'er were fated to be apart. Recently, unable to bear it any longer, Jian Yuyan had found a woman who bore a striking resemblance to Yu'er. Though the Chancellor felt this was inappropriate, having watched Jian Yuyan grow up, he couldn't bring himself to remove the woman.
It was said that this actress had never stepped out of character and was not a widely recognized star, few had ever seen her.
After all, she was just a plaything, likely to be discarded in a few days. The Chancellor did not want to ruin the “father-son bond” between him and Jian Yuyan over an actress. As long as Jian Yuyan kept her well hidden from prying eyes and did not tarnish Yu'er's reputation, he could turn a blind eye and pretend not to know.
As for Yu'er, he would find a time to counsel her properly.
That day, when Jian Yuyan returned to the Jian residence, the Chancellor broached the subject. “A man's dalliances outside are no great matter, but this woman looks too much like Yu'er. If someone who recognizes Yu'er were to see her, it would be rather awkward. If Your Highness truly cares for Yu'er, you surely wouldn’t want to harm her reputation.”
Jian Yuyan’s eyes darkened imperceptibly, though his expression remained unchanged. A faint smile still lingered on his lips as he nodded.
Somewhat reassured, the Chancellor smiled and exchanged a few lighthearted remarks with Jian Yuyan about men's affairs before finally saying, “She’s just an actress, after all. If you truly fancy her, redeem her and keep her somewhere secluded. Plum Garden is too crowded and unreliable.”
“That’s exactly what I had in mind,” Jian Yuyan replied with a smile, then steered the conversation toward court matters. Once the Chancellor was engaged in serious discussion, he did not bring it up again.
With a few words, the matter was set aside. But with the Chancellor’s implicit indulgence, Jian Yuyan simply moved half his belongings to Plum Garden. As days passed, Jian Yu'er grew increasingly discontent. Unable to see Jian Yuyan day after day, she became furious and went to confront the Chancellor. He replied that Jian Yuyan had his own affairs to attend to and asked if Yu'er had any urgent business with him.
Jian Yu'er found it impossible to voice the fact that Jian Yuyan was in love with her. Clutching her handkerchief, she left the house and sought out a few close friends to distract herself.
Yet, even away from home, she could not escape talk of Jian Yuyan. Known as the top gentleman of the capital, he was admired openly and secretly by countless young ladies. Whenever Yu'er was with her friends, they would inevitably bring him up from time to time.
At that moment, a woman remarked with a hint of sourness, “Young Master Jian seems to have taken a fancy to an actress from the Plum Garden recently. He often takes her out, and I’ve already run into them twice.”
Jian Yu'er’s heart tightened abruptly.
“Who knows what kind of stunning beauty she is?” someone couldn’t help but sigh.
Everyone shook their heads, and the woman who had spoken earlier also shook hers regretfully. “She always covers her face, so it’s hard to see clearly, but judging by her eyes and brows, she does resemble Sister Jian a bit.”
The group of young ladies laughed, unaware that Jian Yu'er, in that instant, nearly dug her nails into her palms, her hands hidden in her sleeves.