Chapter 37: If Not Her, How About You?

Yin Chaozong had many sons but only two daughters. Therefore, it was practically common knowledge throughout the imperial court and beyond that Yin Jiaojiao had only one younger sister. Xiao Yuanchi, however, was unaware of this.

Madam Li’s expression shifted, and she quickly restrained the third Miss Yin.

"Your Highness, this is Jiaojiao’s younger sister, Shuyu, the third child in our family. She met you once at the Empress’s poetry gathering a few months ago, which is why she asked so recklessly. She is still young; please do not take offense."

"Oh, I recall now," Xiao Yuanchi said with a sudden realization. "Seventeen this year, only three years younger than Jiaojiao. You are too modest, Mother-in-law; at this age, she is not exactly a child."

The third Miss Yin’s face turned from pale to green. Her mouth opened and closed for a long moment, but she could not squeeze out a word. Madam Li, ever quick-witted, forced a laugh to change the subject, offered a few polite pleasantries, and prepared to take her leave.

Yin Jiaojiao was unable to rise, so Xiao Yuanchi personally escorted the mother and daughter out of the estate. Before they left, the third Miss Yin could not help but ask, "Your Highness is so considerate toward my sister, so why do people say… that you were biased and suppressed her at the County Princess’s birthday banquet?"

"Shuyu!" Madam Li scolded softly. "Your Highness, please ignore her."

Xiao Yuanchi was not the least bit annoyed. "The third young lady is straightforward; it is no matter. Rumors are always difficult to distinguish from the truth, just as everyone says the Prime Minister’s residence is a model of maternal kindness, filial piety, and brotherly harmony, and that the inner chambers of the Eastern Capital are perfectly harmonious. Yet, the reality is that in the year since Jiaojiao married into the Prince’s residence, you, Mother-in-law, have never once stepped through our doors."

Madam Li’s face sank.

Without waiting for her to react, Xiao Yuanchi provided an explanation: "Of course, my father-in-law has been a man of integrity his entire life and would not want to be accused of clinging to the Imperial family. Thus, you had to follow his lead to uphold the family’s reputation."

Madam Li could hardly argue, but agreeing felt hollow. After a moment, she said, "Chaozong has always had this stubborn, lofty flaw. It is good that Your Highness is understanding."

"Understanding," Xiao Yuanchi said flatly. "The Yin family has been a bastion of integrity for generations; it is only fitting."

Though the words were polite, his tone lacked respect. Madam Li offered a strained smile. "Your Highness, this is far enough."

"Very well," Xiao Yuanchi replied without ceremony. "Mother-in-law, third young lady, safe travels. I shall not see you out further."

Hearing this, Madam Li grabbed the third young lady and climbed into the carriage as if fleeing a ghost, disappearing from sight in a blink.

"Your Highness, the Yin family’s visit today was ill-intentioned."

Master Zhang appeared from nowhere. "We have found Xia Lan’s father, but he is alone. Xia Lan’s mother and two younger brothers were taken away ahead of us; their whereabouts are unknown."

"They are unknown because they cannot yet determine where Xia Lan’s move failed or how badly it damaged them. Once they judge the situation, they will immediately exterminate their own kin to cover their tracks," Xiao Yuanchi said slowly. "Indeed, he is worthy of being called Yin Chaozong."

Master Zhang nodded. "But the Princess’s birth mother died long ago, and her maternal family has no power. She is a daughter without backing. What could Yin Chaozong hope to gain by targeting such a daughter? Your Highness, I cannot see the purpose of this move. Could it be..."

Xiao Yuanchi raised a hand, and Master Zhang stopped.

Xiao Yuanchi said coldly, "Yin Jiaojiao, since you are well enough to walk and eavesdrop, why not come out and see your stepmother and sister off yourself?"

Yin Jiaojiao poked half of her body out from behind a pillar in the corridor. Before she could mask her surprise, she quickly began to flatter him.

"Your Highness is truly amazing! You could even spot me from so far away."

The Prince turned around. "Heavy footsteps, erratic breathing, and talking to yourself. If you tried to hide like that, Su Zhengqing could have caught you eight hundred times over." He glanced at her. "What did you hear?"

"I heard… you standing up for me." She blinked. "It sounded wonderful."

"With which ear did you hear that?"

"With both ears!"

Yin Jiaojiao grew anxious and darted out from behind the pillar. Wrapped in a fox-fur cloak, with only her head peeking out from the fluff, she looked like a squirrel.

"Just now in the room, you pretended not to recognize my third sister—that was just to make her abandon any improper thoughts, wasn't it?"

"What improper thoughts could she have?"

Yin Jiaojiao found it hard to say. She had only just realized the hidden meaning behind Madam Li’s words and had followed them out in a daze, unsure of how to explain herself. That was why she had hidden. She had only caught snatches of the conversation from a distance, but she had heard the key part.

Xiao Yuanchi was mocking the Yin family—the Eastern Capital’s model of domestic virtue—for being two-faced, acting one way in public and another in private, and for disregarding her.

When she first heard it, Yin Jiaojiao thought she had misheard. Remembering his sarcastic tone in the room earlier, she realized it was no hallucination; he was truly venting on her behalf.

Could it be that her accidental act of blocking that sword was so effective it had actually earned Xiao Yuanchi’s gratitude?

"She…" Yin Jiaojiao hesitated. "For some reason, they seem to think my days are numbered or that I will eventually be cast aside, so they wanted to send the third sister over as a precaution."

Xiao Yuanchi pinched her earlobe, amused. "Marriages between families are meant to preserve complex ties. If the elder sister is out of favor, the younger helps; if the elder is gone, the younger takes her place. It is common enough. Is that thought so wrong?"

"Of course it’s wrong!" Yin Jiaojiao’s eyes widened. "I don’t care what other families do, but my beloved is not a melon or a cake. I will never share him with anyone!"

Xiao Yuanchi’s gaze flickered. He reached up and pinched her other earlobe as well.

"I heard you were never favored by your father in the Yin household and were raised by your grandmother. I have met your grandmother a few times; she is a woman of few words and deep schemes. How could she have raised someone like you..."

"Like what?"

Xiao Yuanchi pulled her ears upward with both hands.

"A foolish, chatterbox of a girl who jumps around like a rabbit without a carrot."

The man spoke slowly, word by word, as if afraid she wouldn't hear clearly. With every word he uttered, Yin Jiaojiao’s face darkened, and by the end, her brows were knitted together in a deep furrow.

"Xiao Yuanchi!"

She fought to reclaim her ears and scolded, "If you had a heart, would I be without a carrot?"

"Pfft!"

Master Zhang could not hold back a laugh. He quickly pressed his lips together, struggling to regain his composure.

"Your Highness, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."

Xiao Yuanchi didn't look back, merely grunting in acknowledgement. Yin Jiaojiao, however, was reminded by the interruption. Oh no, she had focused on the wrong thing! Was the point about the carrot? The point was the insulting things he said before that!

She had complimented him on his eloquent words, and he had returned the favor by belittling her.

She said indignantly, "If you don't like me praising you, then I won't. From now on, I will shut my mouth and say nothing. It’s not like what I say is as pleasant to listen to as your sister's singing anyway."

As she spoke, the fur on her cloak brushed against her chin, sweeping back and forth. Xiao Yuanchi’s gaze drifted to the swaying fur, as if the fox fur were tickling his own heart—a sensation both itchy and addictive.

He quickly looked away.

"Can you not go a day without mentioning Xuezhi?"

Yin Jiaojiao felt a twinge of bitterness and huffed, "If you stop protecting her, I’ll stop mentioning her."

Xiao Yuanchi looked off into the distance and took a light breath.

"What if I stop protecting her and protect you instead?"

"Protect… ah!"

The man suddenly swept her up into his arms. Yin Jiaojiao instinctively hooked her arms around his neck, settling into a comfortable position before she realized what was happening.

"How exactly will you protect me?"

Xiao Yuanchi gave a tender, lingering smile.

"Everything you have in that head of yours—we shall do it all."

Yin Jiaojiao was startled. "Your Highness!"

The Prince strode away, clearly intending to carry her back to her room.

She quickly mimicked her behavior from the night before, feigning a spoiled tone: "Your Highness, Jiaojiao’s wound hurts."

"Yin Jiaojiao," Xiao Yuanchi glanced at her. "You are not Xuezhi. Using the same trick repeatedly is quite boring."