'My son wants to make that bastard his heir.'
Grandfather's words rang through my mind as I walked back to my courtyard, followed by Xia Jia, who skittered behind.
Despite my resilience to the weather, I couldn't help but feel my hand grow cold as Grandfather's words echoed within my mind.
Why does Father want to make Third Brother his heir?
He's not even his blood-related son, nor is he even distantly related to the family. He's not Second Mother's blood son either, rather an orphan child she raised while she was away from the capital.
And why does Eldest Brother act so calm about this whole situation? Does he even know what Father's intentions are?
He has to, right?
"S-second Young Miss, we've returned," Xia Jia stuttered meekly.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I stood at the entrance of my courtyard, Ping Jing Chi.
"Em, thank you," dismissing her, she bowed before moving onto her next task.
Passing through the meticulous courtyard with elegant trees and blooming flowers despite the season, I walked up to the decorative wooden door and opened it.
Quickly entering my room, I shut the door behind me as I felt an oncoming headache.
Rubbing the crease between my brows, I sat down at my tea table, propping my head in my hand as my arm rested on the smooth surface.
Ah, who knew so much would happen while I was away.
And why didn't my brother tell me any of this sooner?
Pouring myself a cup of tea, I tried to ease my mind off the situation; however, like an encroaching beast, it was difficult to ignore.
Just what in the world is Father thinking? There has to be a logical reason for all of this, other than spite. After all, even if Father hates Eldest Brother, he is still his son, his blood.
Even a beast wouldn't eat their children.
"Knock, knock! Second Young Miss?" The sudden call from outside pulled me back to reality. "Would Second Young Miss like Xia Jia help prepare young miss for dinner?"
"Em, come in."
Xia Jia pushed the door open and walked into my room as the late afternoon light spilled from behind her. Walking over to my vanity, I sat myself down in front of the large bronze mirror, which reflected a blurred image of a young girl.
"S-second Young Miss, i-if you would excuse this slave," Xia Jia bowed before she took the ribbons and pins out of my hair. "Second Young Miss, you have such beautiful hair," Xia Jia complimented as she carefully combed my hair in various sections, removing all of the kinks and knots. "It's so soft and silky."
"Em, thank you," watching her through the mirror, I was surprised at how calm and focused Xia Jia looked while arranging my hair. It was different from the nervous little girl that greeted me this morning.
Soon, my hair was elegantly pulled back into a half up and half down hairstyle, decorated with white jade hairpins and matching jade earrings.
"E-excuse this slave," Xia Jia squeaked as she helped me into a new dress. The color was white with a light blue fade that imitated a lotus pond as pink embroidered lotus grew from the edges of the dress and long sleeves.
"S-second Young Miss must be an immortal fairy that descended from heaven," Xia Jia praised as she looked at me with sparkles in her eyes.
Looking over at the bronze mirror, I looked at the blurred reflection of myself in the mirror. Xia Jia did a fantastic job. I don't even recognize myself in the mirror. "Thank you, Xia Jia."
"I-it's no issue, Second Young Miss," Xia Jia bowed her head with a dust of pink on her face. "I-it's this slave's duty to serve the young miss."
Another knock sounded from the door, as Eldest Brother called out. "Xiao Hua, are you ready?"
Walking over to the door, I opened it to Eldest Brother's smiling face. "Wow, you look amazing, Xiao Hua," he grinned before he proceeded to reach out and try to touch my hair.
"Tsk, don't do that. You'll ruin Xia Jia's hard work." Honestly.
"Em," Eldest Brother pouted. "Geez, so cold. I just wanted to check up on my baby sister, that's all."
Shaking my head at my brother's antics, I ignored his pouting face. I've faced worse before.
"Are you here to escort me to dinner?"
"Yep!" His face suddenly transformed back into his usual expression as Eldest Brother held out his hand. "If you would be so kind as to join me, of course."
"Em, thank you," taking his hand, the two of us began to walk to the main hall. As we came closer, the dread and nervousness began to grow in the pit of my stomach as the image of a stoic middle-aged man came into view.
"Greetings, Father."
---
The large hall was painfully quiet other than the clink of chopsticks and bowls as the time seems to tick by slowly.
Grandfather sat at the head of the table, and to his right sat Father along with Second Mother and Third Brother while Eldest Brother sat beside me.
The tension in the room was so thick that it almost became suffocating to breathe.
Suddenly, Second Mother broke the tension in the room. "Ah, A-Hua, have some more meat," smiling, she placed a slice of beef into my rice bowl. "It's good for young ladies to have some meat on their bones."
I didn't respond to her gesture and ate around the piece of steak, leaving the meat untouched.
Father suddenly slammed his teacup down harshly. "Is this how you treat your mother? With such disrespect!"
I stopped eating and placed down my chopsticks and rice bowl. Staring directly into his eyes, I watched as Father faltered slightly in shock, but as soon as it came, it disappeared.
"You-"
"Ah, dear, it's alright," Second Mother tried to calm Father down. "It's okay. Xiao Hua doesn't need to eat what she doesn't want to."
"Hmph! Since when did I birth such a disrespectful daughter!"
"Aiyah, it's okay," Eldest Brother suddenly cut in, in an attempt to diffuse the situation. "I'll eat the meat in Xiao Hua's stead," quickly picking up the piece of cold beef, Eldest Brother popped it into his mouth. "See? No problem!
Second Mother, thank you for the gesture, but Xiao Hua doesn't like to eat meat that often.
She prefers to eat vegetarian dishes instead."
"Ah," Second Mother smiled warmly. "I'll remember that next time."
"Ahem," Father coughed awkwardly. "A-Hua, your brother tells me that you've become the Martial Aunt of Yun Cai Peak.
Since then, we've received a considerable amount of marriage proposals. And since you're here, I figured it would be good for you to meet-"
"Father," I cut in. "Please, not now." I already knew where this conversation was going, and every time it starts, it ends with Father being bitter.
"Pah! What, are you planning to remain unmarried until you've become an old spinster? You're turning eighteen this year, and the number of suitors for you are decreasing!
Although I promised your late mother that you could choose whom to marry, you can't keep rejecting all the proposals!
As a woman, you must marry out of the house to become-"
Suddenly, the door to the dining hall burst open as a young servant came through, interrupting Father's rant. "Apologises, Masters," the servant started. "But someone at the gate is demanding Second Young Miss's presence."
"What?" Who could be here for me? "Who is it?"
"Em," the servant. "This servant doesn't know, but they keep insisting that they know you! They say that they are your junior."
It can't be.
Arriving at the gates, I spot a young girl in green, arguing with the guards as she tried to force her way through the gates.
"Who are you, and what is your business here?"
"Aiyah! I already told you, I'm here for your young missy! Now let this auntie through! I have something important for her!"
"Halt! Strangers can't just go into the Ye Residence on a whim! Who do you think you are?"
"Junior Sister?"
The late evening sun suddenly shown down on her, giving Zhu Na Ran a golden aura as a familiar smile broke across her face. "Senior Sister!"