Chapter 563: A Peaceful Life (Part 2)

Chapter 563: A Peaceful Little Life (Part 2)

Though the Mid-Autumn Festival had not yet arrived, it was already foreseeable that the Su family’s celebration this year would be a picture of joy and harmony.

Su Rao was in good spirits every day, dragging Yun Ji along to help prepare festive gifts for her sister-in-law while also trying to find a wife for her fourth cousin, so he wouldn’t end up the lone bachelor.

Fourth Brother’s love life had been rough—first, he was chased relentlessly by Yun Luoling, running scared, then his grandfather arranged that whole mess with the third daughter of the Liu family, who ended up having her eye on the absent eldest brother instead. If Fourth Brother got so fed up with all this that he didn’t even want to find a wife anymore, what then? She had to take precautions early, lest Fourth Brother develop lasting scars.

Free from hatred, Su Rao felt she had truly become a playful mischief-maker, teasing her brothers so often that Su Si could only sigh and shake his head helplessly.

Yet this brought endless joy to Yun Ji, the corners of his lips always turned up in amusement, and even the obsidian sparkle in his slender phoenix eyes grew ever more radiant.

That dazzling light seemed capable of piercing his heart, dispelling the last remnants of fear hidden within, vanishing without a trace.

Day after day, Yun Ji was in exceptionally high spirits, so happy he wanted to bask in it forever.

Today was no different.

Su Rao teased Su Si again, sharing her joy with Yun Ji so he could feel it too.

"Yun Ji, let me tell you something hilarious. Fourth Brother just asked me why I haven’t found a wife for Fifth Brother too, so he’d be pleasantly surprised when he returns. Why am I always on his case about this?"

From afar, her bright, cheerful voice drifted along the winding path, reaching the ears of the two men playing chess in the pavilion. The fair-complexioned man, YueHua, who had been leisurely playing against Su San paused the white piece he was about to place.

His elegant brows relaxed as he turned to look at the lively figure approaching. Though her steps were quick, they were steady, her moon-white dress fluttering gracefully in the air. Gone was the red she used to hate; instead, she now wore the same hue as Yun Ji—moonlight white.

This color, too, was one she loved.

Hurrying over to Yun Ji’s side, she grinned and said,

"Yun Ji, guess what I told him."

As she spoke, she also glanced at Su San. "Third Brother, why don’t you try guessing too? You know how Fourth Brother is—can you figure out what’s so funny about it? What kind of reply would embarrass him?"

"If it’s something that would embarrass Fourth Brother, then I’ll have to think carefully."

The chess game lost its conclusion. Yun Ji never placed that piece, and Su San nodded thoughtfully at Su Rao’s question, making it pointless to continue the game. Rubbing the black piece in his hand, Su San genuinely pondered.

But no matter how he thought, he couldn’t imagine what kind of answer would embarrass Su Si. It couldn’t be about Yun Luoling chasing Su Si—Su Rao had already teased him about that many times, and Su Si had long grown numb to it. The girl who once pursued him was now his future sister-in-law, and he didn’t even flinch at her now.

Nor could it be about the third daughter of the Liu family. The whole affair between her and Su Si was just old General Su and the Liu family patriarch’s meddling, playing matchmaker. Su Si felt nothing for her, just as he had felt nothing for Yun Luoling—not a shred of interest whatsoever.

If it wasn’t related to Yun Luoling or the Liu family’s third daughter, Su San truly couldn’t think of anything else.

Their mother was gentle and virtuous, while their father, weakened by injuries, no longer possessed the vigor of his youth. Thus, the brothers inherited their parents’ mild temperaments. Though the Su family’s bold blood ran in their veins, they were mostly gentle by nature.

The only thing that could truly test their patience was their grandfather’s relentless meddling. Beyond that, it was hard to imagine anything else that could embarrass them—especially in matters of marriage.

At a loss, Su San turned his gaze to Yun Ji, who was also deep in thought.

Yun Ji pondered seriously, his keen insight evident in his expression. The growing smile on his lips told Su San and Su Rao that, from the moment she spoke, he had already guessed her answer.

If Su Rao described it as "hilarious," then her reply must defy conventional thinking. And since it involved Su Wu, the only thing that would get under Su Si’s skin was talk of Su Wu’s love life.

And this "wife" was no ordinary woman…

"Rao Rao, did you perhaps tell your fourth brother that Fifth Brother and the Eighth Prince are so inseparable that he doesn’t need a wife…?"

His soft smile lingered as he watched Su Rao’s expectant expression, waiting for his guess. His grin widened slightly as he voiced his speculation.

Clatter...

Yun Ji’s guess had barely left his lips when the black piece in Su San’s hand slipped and fell to the ground with a crisp, melodious sound. His jaw dropped in shock, mirroring Su Si’s reaction upon hearing Su Rao’s words—utterly dumbfounded.

Without Su Rao needing to say more, Su San’s reaction alone confirmed that Yun Ji’s guess was spot-on.

What’s more shocking than two men together?

That old scandal between Su Er and Yun Mujing had shocked the entire Su family and became a taboo topic Su Er avoided at all costs.

Though the bond between Su Wu and Yun Muyue was just brotherly, that didn’t stop Su Rao from making the joke.

Her peach blossom eyes sparkled with mischievous delight, her eyes crinkled with laughter, naturally flushed.

The rosy hue softened the unsightly scar on her forehead, making her eyes shine even brighter.

The light in her gaze reflected Yun Ji’s entire being—clear and vivid.

He had long been imprinted in her eyes, etched into her heart.

Dressed in robes like woven moonlight, he stood out vividly in her sight, as clear as when they had sat together in the Eastern Palace corridor, gazing up at the only glimmer of light that remained in his heart—the radiant moon, the only light he’d ever known.

Now, he no longer needed to look up at the moonlight. He had her—brighter than any moon.

Once again, his heart trembled, raw and obvious. He felt this tenderness himself, yet instead of resisting, he sank deeper into it, willingly surrendering.

His phoenix eyes remained fixed on Su Rao, watching her banter, her laughter endless. The years of suppressed gloom in his heart had vanished, replaced by a lightness he had never known before. Just seeing his beloved happy filled him with indescribable happiness.

He stood, oblivious to everyone else, Yun Ji’s hand unconsciously reached to caress Su Rao’s brow. His gaze lingered for a moment on the scar on her forehead, still left uncovered and worn unapologetically.

Then, his slender fingers brushed over it, gently tracing the mark.

Softly, he murmured,

"I’m used to it now, but if possible... let’s remove this scar, shall we?"

Now, Yun Ji’s every flicker of expression was captured by Su Rao’s heart without fail.

At this moment, sensing the softening within him, her joy was real.

For over half a month, she had no longer sensed that darkness in him. He wasn’t pretending to be Yun Ji anymore—he had become Yun Ji, instinctively.

His heart no longer held constant vigilance, no longer feared that a single misstep would expose him, revealing that he was not the Yun Ji she loved—bright and unburdened.

He didn’t even notice how he was gradually shedding the last remnants of fear within him, lowering his defenses bit by bit, embracing the version of himself that belonged in the sunlight.

To ensure Yun Ji’s happiness and self-healing, Su Rao had worked tirelessly. Now, seeing the results, she was pleased. Soon, she believed, his affliction would be fully cured.

"This scar really should go. But it’s been there too long—my skills aren’t enough to remove it. Let’s wait for Bamboo Master to return and have him erase it."

Her delicate fingers also touched her forehead briefly before she casually took Yun Ji’s hand in hers, their eyes locked, drowning in each other.

Su San, standing nearby, was completely ignored.