A Quiet Homecoming

Moreover, her relationship with the female lead had inexplicably grown closer.

But thinking about it, it made sense. The entire Pingyuan Hou mansion had only these two young ladies, both of marriageable age, so it was only natural they'd visit each other and chat.

It was just that Lady Pingyuan wanted the female lead, a mistress of needlework, to teach her daughter some embroidery so she could show off a bit before marriage. That was what Chen Yao found hard to bear.

Looking at her fingertip, where the slender needle had pricked yet another small hole, she pursed her lips and let out a soft "hiss."

"I don't want to embroider anymore! It hurts!"

Her hand was both numb and painful. Chen Yao stared at the tiny, slightly red needle prick, and finally, in a fit of pique, threw the embroidery needle and brocade handkerchief to the ground, her pretty face all puffed up with anger.

They had been sitting together in the courtyard chatting, so they hadn't kept their maidservants close by.

Thus, it was Jiang Lingxuan who crouched down, picked up the handkerchief Chen Yao had discarded, and handed it back to her.

"Just take it slow. You've already... um, improved quite a bit," she said.

She glanced at the stitches on the brocade handkerchief, which were crooked and tangled like a mess of thread. It was clearly meant to be a pair of twin lotuses, but the outline of the petals was barely discernible.

Jiang Lingxuan paused, ultimately unable to bring herself to lie and praise her sister's embroidery.

Clearly, Chen Yao also knew she had made a mess of it. She pouted and said through gritted teeth, "Well, I'm not embroidering anymore. Let's just have Mother send this handkerchief directly to the Xie mansion."

Jiang Lingxuan couldn't help but find her words, like a sulking child, amusing.

She coaxed gently, "Alright, alright, we won't embroider then. It's almost noon anyway..."

Before she could finish, Chen Yao had thought of another clever idea. "Why don't you embroider a random flower for me? But it can't be too pretty. It just has to pass Mother's inspection."

Giving the female lead's embroidered handkerchief to the male lead—wasn't that a different path to the same goal?

But her lazy scheme was gently refused.

Jiang Lingxuan's gaze was gentle, her bright eyes like water. "Mother would notice. It's no use even if I help you."

Moreover, a lady's embroidered handkerchief was a personal item. How could her work replace her sister's and be sent to her future husband's family?

Chen Yao had no choice but to give up.

*

Lunch was taken in the main courtyard with Lady Pingyuan.

Just as she had rinsed her mouth with mint water and taken the towel from her maidservant to dab at the corners of her lips, Chen Yao heard her mother speak up, and she couldn't help but droop her head and ears again.

"In previous days, Young Master Xie was busy with official duties and couldn't get away. Today, he has some free time. Hearing that you like storybooks, he wants to invite you to Tingchao Tower to listen to the storytellers."

Seeing her daughter's lips turn down, her next words cut off any refusal. "I've already agreed for you. It's settled."

"Mother, I already said I don't want to marry into the Xie mansion." Chen Yao puffed up her cheeks.

"You silly child. The Xie family is a prestigious household, and Young Master Xie is as refined as jade among orchids. At his young age, he's already the Crown Prince's Junior Tutor, a rank 3.4 official. What's so hard to appreciate about him?"

Lady Hou tapped her head lightly, with an air of frustration. "This marriage is already set in stone. Don't say such things again in the future."

Chen Yao pouted. "But my dream prophecy said I wouldn't be happy if I married him. And Xie Qingyan is so dull, as silent as a wooden block. He's no fun at all."

"Nonsense. Young Master Xie is just reserved in nature—a gentleman like jade. He'll treat you very well after marriage."

"Mother, you always side with outsiders. Am I still your precious daughter?"

"I'm just speaking the truth." Lady Hou raised an eyebrow. "Besides, you're so lively and impulsive, while Young Master Xie is naturally quiet. Isn't that a perfect match made in heaven?"

Unable to convince her mother, Chen Yao had no choice but to return to her Lanyue Courtyard with a sulky face.

*

In the end, she still got into the carriage the Xie mansion had sent to pick her up. Of course, Chen Yao wasn't going to be that obedient, so she coaxed and cajoled to bring the female lead along.

"Even if we're betrothed, it's not good for just a man and woman to be alone together—people might gossip. So bringing Lingxuan along is just perfect."

Since her daughter was willing to go out obediently, Lady Pingyuan couldn't be bothered to scold her further.

Knowing Jiang Lingxuan to be a steady girl, she even specifically instructed her, "Then I'll trouble you, Xuan'er, to keep an eye on her. If Yao Yao gets too rowdy, come back and tell me, and I'll deal with her."

Chen Yao perked up her ears and immediately puffed out her cheeks. "Mother, you really are my own mother."

And what nonsense was this, having the younger sister watch over the elder? Did she have no face at all?

But Jiang Lingxuan also nodded seriously in agreement. "Auntie, don't worry. I'll keep an eye on Sister."

This made Chen Yao so angry that she deliberately stomped her foot heavily in front of the carriage. "Hurry up and go."

Jiang Lingxuan gave Lady Hou a slight bow, then replied softly, "I'm coming."

*

Arriving at Tingchao Tower, they discovered that Xie Qingyan hadn't come alone either.

Looking at the young girl standing beside him, her hair tied up in two adorable little buns with red ribbons, no more than seven or eight years old, Chen Yao's eyes flickered slightly.

After all, it was a marriage arranged before birth. Maybe Xie Qingyan wasn't too enthusiastic about it either?

She thought silently to herself, feeling a bit relieved.

But since both sides had brought along their little tags, they politely introduced each other upon meeting.

The young girl Xie Qingyan brought was his fourth sister, Xie Yi'an. Though she was still young, there was already a hint of elegant poise in her brows that befitted a young lady of a noble family.

After her elder brother introduced her, she raised a pair of calm eyes and very composedly performed a polite bow. "Greetings, two elder sisters Jiang."

"What a little sweetheart!" Chen Yao exclaimed.

System 04 nodded in agreement. "She's also your good ally, a future little minion."

Yes, in the plot, it seemed that to give the later vicious supporting female character more weight in causing trouble, the male lead's most beloved younger sister was specifically assigned to her camp.

The Xie family's status was noble, and their education of children was naturally very strict. As a result, Xie Yi'an deeply envied Jiang Chenyao's outward display of willfulness and freedom.

Add to that the fact that later she mistakenly believed the female supporting character had saved her life, she became even more unwaveringly devoted to jumping on that pirate ship, betraying her elder brother without batting an eye.

"Don't call my little sweetheart that." Chen Yao retorted in her mind, hands on her hips.

She looked down at the young girl before her, who still had a bit of baby fat but was trying to look serious, and was charmed by the sudden contrast. She couldn't help but want to pinch her little cheeks.

*

Clearly, the old storyteller who could hold court at Tingchao Tower was undoubtedly skillful in his performance, with his singing and acting.

Even someone as impatient as Chen Yao was initially drawn in by his rhythmic, vivid singing, listening with great relish.

Until the storyteller slapped the wooden block on the table, silencing the entire teahouse as everyone focused intently on the story's next twist.

But Chen Yao's ears twitched slightly. She seemed to hear faint calls from the street below the tower.

"Candied hawthorns—sweet and sour candied hawthorns!"