Chapter 38

Jiang Yi could guess why Yan Yiming had slashed her face and surmised that it might be related to Jian Yu’er.
He had seen Yan Yiming’s face and also witnessed her hidden, stubborn side. The mysteries surrounding this woman made Jiang Yi believe that even if she were an actress, she wouldn’t be an ordinary one.
The only thing he hadn’t anticipated was her ruthless and decisive method, and the fact that it was directly connected to Jian Yu’er.
Jian Yu’er had never mentioned this matter to him. Jiang Yi had only casually remarked that he happened to meet the woman from the Plum Garden yesterday, and Jian Yu’er suddenly became flustered, knocking over the teacup in her hand. The pale-yellow tea left mottled stains on her white dress, but Jian Yu’er still seemed unable to collect herself. Later, she hurriedly returned to the Jian residence under the pretext of changing clothes.
Watching her somewhat disheveled retreating figure, Jiang Yi narrowed his eyes and immediately realized that Yan Yiming’s statement, “I did it myself,” seemed to have another layer of meaning.
After that day, Jian Yu’er truly never saw Jian Yuyan again. It wasn’t that Jian Yuyan didn’t return home; it was just that whenever she recalled Yan Yiming’s blood-stained face and Jian Yuyan’s icy mockery, Jian Yu’er would be overwhelmed by a wave of fear and shame.
She never imagined that the feelings she had finally mustered the courage to express had become a source of shame for Jian Yuyan. She would never forget how he wore a smile on his face but spoke in the coldest tone, saying, “Jian Yu'er, your emotions are terrifyingly frivolous.”
She didn't dare look at Jian Yuyan again and hastily fled the Plum Garden.
Now, a few days later, Jiang Yi inadvertently brought it up, and Jian Yu'er suddenly realized that Jian Yuyan's remark about her being “frivolous” was also connected to Jiang Yi. She abruptly grew afraid that Jiang Yi might discover her involvement in Yan Yiming's disfigurement.
Restless and uneasy, she left the teahouse. Upon returning home, Lady Jian called her to join for dinner. Noticing her daughter's troubled expression, Lady Jian grew concerned, but Jian Yu'er quickly reassured her, saying she was just tired from a poor night's sleep.
Just then, Chancellor Jian happened to return from outside and, overhearing the conversation, glanced at his daughter's face and said, “Have Doctor Li examine you tomorrow. It wouldn't do to catch a chill.”
Jian Yu'er nodded absentmindedly. Lady Jian took her hand and asked what she had done that day. Upon learning she had taken tea with Jiang Yi, she couldn't resist asking a few more questions.
Jian Yu'er had now reached the age for marriage. Lady Jian had initially assumed Yu'er might form a bond with the Crown Prince, but her husband had firmly opposed it. She assumed it was because the Chancellor doted on his daughter and didn't want her to enter the palace. Later, when the Crown Prince married the Yan family's daughter, Lady Jian never brought it up again.
Then came Jiang Yi. Although Lady Jian had heard of the scholar who topped the imperial examinations three times in a row, she had initially looked down on his humble background. It wasn't until she met Jiang Yi in person that her opinion changed. He was unexpectedly handsome, with a demeanor no less refined than that of noble-born young masters, and he had since won the emperor's favor. Lady Jian's earlier dissatisfaction faded away.
If not for the fact that the eldest son of the household had yet to formally marry, Yu'er and Jiang Yi's engagement would have been settled much sooner.
Outsiders believed Lady Jian had given birth to only two children, Jian Yuyan and Jian Yu'er, while the other sons and daughters in the household were born to concubines. But as the one who had borne the children herself, how could Lady Jian not know exactly how many she had given birth to?
When she first married into the Jian family two months prior, there had been no signs of pregnancy, while her sister-in-law, the young lady of the Jian family, was already with child. Lady Jian had met her sister-in-law's husband. Even though she had seen many handsome men, she had never encountered one as strikingly good-looking as him, dashing and elegant, with captivating peach-blossom eyes that made even a newlywed like her too shy to look directly.
Lady Jian wondered why she had never heard of such a remarkable man before. His bearing was so noble, he seemed every bit the scion of a prestigious family.
But the maids in the household explained that this brother-in-law was the son of an old friend of the late Master Jian, entrusted to the family before his friend's passing. Since he was around the same age as the eldest son, he was adopted as a foster son and raised in the household, treated no differently from the other young masters.
The Jian family's young lady was three years younger than the Chancellor and this foster son but had grown up playing alongside them. As they all matured, the foster son and the young lady developed feelings for each other, and Master Jian arranged their marriage.
Lady Jian assumed that because the foster son's status couldn't compare to that of noble-born young masters, the marriage was kept quiet. Yet, seeing how deeply in love the couple was, she thought them a perfect match, a talented man and a beautiful woman.
Not long after, the young lady became pregnant. Lady Jian couldn't help but feel envious. But just a few days later, something no one had anticipated happened, the foster son, raised by the Jian family, died.
Lady Jian would always remember the ashen faces of Old Master Jian and her husband, and how her sister-in-law, whose pregnancy was not yet showing, had collapsed upon hearing the sudden news.
During that time, the young Miss Jian rapidly wasted away. Lady Jian stayed by her side day and night, fearing that some mishap might befall her as well.
Though Miss Jian grew increasingly haggard over the ten months of her pregnancy, she endured it all for the sake of the child in her womb. The baby was born one night, a boy. Old Master Jian and her husband were so moved they nearly shed tears.
Lady Jian held the tiny infant in her arms, watching as he slept peacefully with his eyes closed. The household maids all remarked that he was the most beautiful child they had ever seen.
Yet, this lovely child was born under the most pitiable circumstances. His father had passed away before he was born, and his mother, after catching just one glimpse of him, ended her own life with a white silk cord.
From then on, the child truly became her own.
Later, the servants who knew the inside story disappeared. As time went on, the lie was repeated so often that even she occasionally forgot that Jian Yuyan was not her biological son.
Last time, when Yu'er suddenly remarked that she and Jian Yuyan looked nothing alike, Lady Jian was startled into realizing the truth.
How could they look alike? Jian Yuyan's features were the very image of his biological father.
Lately, however, she hadn't seen much of Jian Yuyan. When she casually mentioned it, Chancellor Jian was about to brush it off with an excuse when he noticed, out of the corner of his eye, his daughter's hand trembling as she held her chopsticks.
After a moment's pause, he said, “Perhaps the Crown Prince has some matters for him.”
Lady Jian shot her husband a glare. “I've heard he hasn't returned to the residence at night lately. Even if the Crown Prince has business, it wouldn't keep him out all night.”
She was also aware of Jian Yuyan's reputation for being “dissolute.” In the past, she hadn't thought much of it, but now that he was of marriageable age, she couldn't approve of him frequenting pleasure quarters.
However, discussing marriage matters wasn't appropriate in front of the children. It was only after Jian Yu'er had left that she brought it up with Chancellor Jian.
Jian Yu'er, hiding carefully behind the curtain, overheard her mother mentioning young ladies from certain families. Shocked, she covered her mouth and silently retreated.
“So they're looking for a wife for Jian Yuyan,” Little A remarked.
“Jian Yuyan is a year younger than Nan Gongxuan and has already come of age this year. It's indeed time for him to marry.”
Since Jian Yu'er didn't stay to listen further, Yan Yiming had no way of knowing which young ladies Chancellor Jian and his wife had in mind. Lady Jian focused on family background and appearance, while Chancellor Jian considered other factors.
Regardless of the choice, it was undeniable that Jian Yuyan's marriage could no longer be postponed.
Lady Jian failed to notice her daughter's despondency, but Chancellor Jian saw it clearly. Matters of love and affection among the younger generation had never concerned him, but seeing his usually composed daughter so distraught made him realize that something must have happened between the two children that he was unaware of.
Jian Yuyan had not intended to return, but it had already been two or three days since he last saw Lady Jian. Though she was not his birth mother, she treated him no differently than she did Jian Yu'er.
If there was anyone in this household who still held a trace of his concern, it was undoubtedly Lady Jian, who regarded him as her own son.
Lady Jian was genuinely delighted to see Jian Yuyan enter. Upon learning that he had not yet had dinner, she hastily arranged for a separate meal to be prepared. Only then did she sit beside him, smiling warmly as she chatted with him.
She did not broach the subject too directly. Instead, Lady Jian took a gradual approach, speaking for quite a while before steering the conversation toward the matter of Jian Yuyan's marriage.
Even though it was Lady Jian, whom he had always been close to and respected, Jian Yuyan instantly lost any desire to stay the moment the topic was raised.
From the time he first understood what love meant, Jian Yuyan had resisted the idea of marriage. Back then, it was because of Jian Yu'er, and now, it was because of Yan Yiming.
Back then, he could not marry Jian Yu'er, and now, he could not marry Yan Yiming.
Jian Yuyan disliked the very notion of marriage. With someone already in his heart, he had no desire to spend the rest of his life with another woman.
Lady Jian simply could not understand why a young man of his age would not want to settle down. After much thought, she could only assume that Jian Yuyan was still too fond of playing around and had not yet had his fill of the allure of the outside world.
This thought only strengthened her resolve that Jian Yuyan should marry sooner rather than later, lest he be led astray by unsavory characters.
“You are the eldest son of the family. Now that you've come of age, how can you avoid marriage?” Lady Jian deliberately put on a stern face. “You have younger siblings in the household. If you don't marry soon, will you delay their futures as well?”
Then, feeling she had been too harsh, she softened her tone and returned to her usual demeanor, elaborating on the many benefits and joys of marriage.
Jian Yuyan thought of his current relationship with Yan Yiming. It was no different from what Lady Jian described as the life of a married couple, truly a time of comfort and contentment.
But if he were to replace her with another woman, all that comfort would shatter in an instant.
After leaving Lady Jian's quarters, the servants informed him that the Chancellor was waiting for him in the study.
Jian Yuyan acknowledged the message but did not go immediately. Instead, he leaned against a pillar in the corridor of the rear garden, gazing up at the stars in the sky, a gentle smile playing on his lips.
At this very hour last night, he and Yan Yiming had sat together under the starry sky in the Plum Garden, drinking tea and laughing. He wondered what A’Ming was doing now.
It was only after a long while that Jian Yuyan finally went to see the Chancellor. Before the Chancellor could even ask, Jian Yuyan naturally explained that he had just returned to change his clothes, then inquired what urgent matter required his attention so late.
The Chancellor looked at his “eldest son”, who was, in fact, his nephew, and smiled kindly, gesturing for him to sit. “Have you seen Lady Jian?”
“Yes,” Jian Yuyan replied, taking the tea poured by the maids and taking a small sip. “I just came from Mother's place.”
The Chancellor stroked his beard. “Did she mention the matter of your marriage?”
Jian Yuyan frowned slightly and answered indifferently, “She did.”
His attitude toward marriage remained as cold as ever, and the Chancellor could only sigh inwardly. He had revealed Jian Yuyan's true identity early on, hoping to make him understand the responsibilities he bore. Yet, he never expected that, freed from the constraints of being siblings, Jian Yuyan would develop feelings for Yu'er.
Chancellor Jian had repeatedly urged Jian Yuyan to abandon this matter early on, but Jian Yuyan’s refusal to marry to this day made it clear he hadn’t taken it to heart. Unexpectedly, after just a few words today, Jian Yuyan, in a rare moment, stated that he no longer had such intentions.
Chancellor Jian was slightly taken aback but then overjoyed, exclaiming “Excellent!” twice in succession.
It was already very late when Jian Yuyan left Chancellor Jian’s study, but he still left the Jian residence and headed to the Plum Garden.
In the small pavilion on the south side of the Plum Garden, the warm glow of candlelight remained. From a distance, Jian Yuyan gazed at the gentle radiance, and the heavy, oppressive feeling in his chest finally seemed to ease.
He unconsciously softened his footsteps, but it still alerted Yan Yiming, who was sitting by the candlelight.
Countless times, Yan Yiming had waited for his return like this, draped in a thin robe by the candlelight. No matter how many times it happened, Jian Yuyan was always deeply moved.
With a familiar gesture, he stepped forward, wrapped his arms around her slightly chilled body, and kissed the nape of her neck. After a long while, he sighed and said, “If I come late in the future, you don’t have to wait for me.”
Yan Yiming leaned into his embrace and replied, “But I can’t fall asleep without waiting for you.”
Jian Yuyan chuckled softly. The two sat quietly together without speaking. After some time, Yan Yiming called out to him, “Zi’an.”
“Hmm,” Jian Yuyan responded, “What is it?”
“Did something happen to you today?”