Chapter 3

Chapter 3

A graceful woman emerged from the private room behind the beaded curtain, appearing no older than sixteen. Dressed in a striking red gown, she held a horsewhip, her long hair tied high and cascading down her back, giving her a clean and sharp look. She swept her gaze over them without reservation, her eyes lingering for a moment longer on Ye Shuang's face.

"Sister Song, long time no see. What brings you here today?"

Song Yun recognized her: "Liu Yiyi? It's actually you!"

Liu Yiyi... The name sounded familiar.

In the years Xiao Lin had been in Lin'an, Song Yun hadn't seen him again. She had only heard that Prince Jing, then the heir to Prince Pingyang, was very close with Miss Liu's elder brother. Miss Liu often accompanied her brother to the prince’s estate to play, and over time, she had become well-acquainted with Xiao Lin.

"Sister Song, it's been a while. And who is this sister?" Liu Yiyi asked, her eyes full of inquiry.

"What business is it of yours who she is! What are you doing here?"

"Just browsing. Is Sister Song here to shop as well?"

Song Yun rolled her eyes emphatically: "Who are you calling sister? I don’t deserve that title. An unmarried woman sneaking around with a married man—I certainly don't have a sister like you."

"Who are you accusing of meeting in private!" Liu Yiyi flared up instantly.

"You! What? If you dare to do it, are you afraid of people talking about it?" Song Yun sneered, then turned to question Xiao Lin, "The Marquis must be truly swamped with official duties! On your wife's birthday, instead of keeping her company at home, you're here strolling around with another woman!"

The guard Xiao Yin interjected from the side: "Miss Song, please mind your words!"

Liu Yiyi suppressed her anger, forced a smile, stepped forward, and bowed: "You must be Sister Ye Shuang. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I recently thought about going riding and wanted to buy a new set of riding gear but couldn't quite decide, so I asked Brother Lin to help me choose. I truly didn't know today was your birthday—that was entirely my oversight."

"If you didn't know, how could it be your fault? If I were to blame you for this, wouldn’t it make me seem narrow-minded?"

Ye Shuang observed coldly. Though Liu Yiyi was young, her mind was far from simple. Song Yun was blunt and quick-tempered, and Ye Shuang feared she would be deliberately provoked into saying something she shouldn't.

"What are you saying! Say that again!" Song Yun, fuming, looked as if she was about to charge forward.

Seeing the situation on the verge of getting out of hand, Ye Shuang quickly pulled Song Yun back two steps.

"Why are you pulling me? Let me teach her a good lesson!"

Ye Shuang gently squeezed her hand, signaling her to calm down: "Let me handle this."

Song Yun's eyes were full of concern: "Are you alright!"

Ye Shuang curved her lips slightly, gesturing that she was fine.

While Song Yun was arguing with Liu Yiyi, Xiao Lin had been watching Ye Shuang without a change in expression.

Now, Ye Shuang also turned to meet his gaze.

Their eyes met, and a storm of emotions swirled in Ye Shuang's eyes—shame, anger, questioning, and disappointment.

Xiao Yin quickly interjected: "My lady, you misunderstand! The Marquis isn't what you think!"

Xiao Lin raised a hand: "Xiao Yin, no need to say more."

Xiao Yin obeyed and stepped back.

"Why are you here?" Xiao Lin said abruptly.

Ye Shuang couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Nowadays, every time she spoke with Xiao Lin, she would unconsciously compare him to the person he was five years ago. His cold and detached tone repeatedly reminded her that times had changed.

Since her appearance, Xiao Lin's expression was no longer the same as before.

"What? Does the Marquis not want to see me so much?"

Xiao Lin looked away: "Not at all."

Ye Shuang stared fiercely at Xiao Lin, trying to catch a glimpse of any flaw, any sign that proved his current aloofness was feigned. Unfortunately, there was none. He had already resolved to cut ties with her and to erase their past in Yuzhou.

Liu Yiyi's appearance felt like a further reminder that they could never go back.

Then what did her months of patience and attempts to please him amount to? She felt like a joke.

Seeing her silent, Xiao Lin frowned: "Why aren't you speaking? Today, I did break my word and couldn't have dinner with you, but something came up unexpectedly. I already sent someone to deliver a birthday gift. Are you still not satisfied?"

Hearing this, Song Yun immediately raised her voice: "Today is your birthday? I didn't even know!"

Ye Shuang tugged Song Yun back and smiled reassuringly: "It's alright."

"Why are you pushing so hard? Just because it's your birthday, do you think you can do whatever you want?"

Song Yun's eyes turned red with rage as she pointed at Xiao Lin and scolded: "How can you talk to her like that!"

Afraid that Song Yun would provoke Xiao Lin, Ye Shuang had no choice but to pull her aside.

Xiao Lin had spent years fighting on the battlefield, and he now carried an unmistakable aura of brutality, nothing like he used to be. If they truly offended him, Ye Shuang feared Song Yun would face trouble.

Wen Xiang, unable to stand by, stepped forward and bowed: "Marquis, today Madam woke up early to prepare, dressed meticulously, supervised the cooking of every dish, and even personally made the shredded bamboo shoot noodles you love, waiting for your return to dine together."

"Who gave you the right to speak? Is this how you manage the servants in your household, sister? How dare a servant speak without permission?" Liu Yiyi's almond-shaped eyes widened, a flash of fierceness in her gaze.

"How dare you! You’re just a maid who dares to criticize me? I'll rip your mouth open!" Liu Yiyi raised her horsewhip to strike Wen Xiang.

Ye Shuang quickly stepped forward: "Wen Xiang is my maid. You have no right to discipline her!"

Unexpectedly, Liu Yiyi had already swung her whip. Ye Shuang could only raise her arm to block it while pulling Wen Xiang aside with her other hand. But Liu Yiyi didn’t let up. As the whip was about to strike Ye Shuang's face, she instinctively turned her head away.

Someone's hand pulled her. The wind beside her ear seemed to split. Ye Shuang felt a looseness on her head and knew something was wrong. She tried to raise her hand to protect herself, but it was too late—she only grabbed at nothing. Then came a crisp sound, followed by a burning pain on the back of her hand.

Her hair fell like a black waterfall. The wind seemed to carry the fragrance of osmanthus, tangling with her strands of hair, casting a layer of autumn chill.

"Madam!" "Shuang'er!"

Wen Xiang and Song Yun exclaimed simultaneously.

Xiao Yin immediately knelt to apologize: "I failed! I couldn't protect Madam in time. Please punish me."

Ye Shuang looked at the kneeling Xiao Yin, then at Xiao Lin in the distance. Finally, her gaze turned to the white jade hairpin, now broken and lifeless, lying on the gravel not far away.

"Let me fix your hair for you." Song Yun undid her sleeve ties, intending to tie up Ye Shuang's hair.

Wen Xiang crouched down to pick up the hairpin.

Ye Shuang gently pushed Song Yun away and said to Wen Xiang, "No need to pick it up."

These four simple words somehow struck a chord, making their hearts shudder—like snowmelt flowing through a newly thawed stream, cold and sharp, not piercing to the bone but chilling from within.

Xiao Lin, rarely so stern, scolded Liu Yiyi: "What exactly are you doing?"

Liu Yiyi averted her gaze, frantically twisting her wrist. "Brother Lin, you're hurting me."

Xiao Lin snapped out of his daze and abruptly released Liu Yiyi. Though he had stepped in to stop her earlier, the lash had already landed, and someone was still injured.

Xiao Lin’s gaze fell on the bloody mark on Ye Shuang’s hand, and he frowned instantly.

Bright red blood dripped from her fair-skinned hand, a stark and unsettling sight. Yet Ye Shuang seemed unaware, walking step by step forward until she stood before Liu Yiyi.

Xiao Lin moved half a step forward, positioning himself between them. "What do you think you're doing?"

Ye Shuang met his eyes, as if trying to read him, but it was futile—after all these years apart, he was no longer the Xiao Lin she once knew. Or perhaps the one she missed was only the man he used to be.

"What? Are you afraid I might harm her?"

"That’s not what I meant," Xiao Lin said, though he did not step aside. "You should tend to your wound first!"

Ye Shuang did not advance further, letting out a soft, bitter laugh. "This must be Miss Liu, right? You claimed not to know it was my birthday today, yet earlier, without me saying a word, you immediately offered apologies. Isn’t that absurd? The Marquis, despite his heavy responsibilities, still found time to stroll through the market with Miss Liu. It suggests a deep friendship between you. Since you keep calling him 'Brother Lin,' you ought to address me as sister-in-law. Or perhaps you should ask your 'Brother Lin' what he thinks?"

Xiao Lin did not refute her.

Liu Yiyi had no choice but to reluctantly call out, "Sister-in-law." "It was all my fault for being so reckless earlier, injuring you and breaking your hairpiece. This hairpin must have been something you cherished dearly. I should compensate you for it."

Hearing this, Ye Shuang smiled again. "No need. It was just a worthless trinket. If it’s broken, so be it."

As she spoke, she cast a deep glance at Xiao Lin, but he remained silent, only turning to Liu Yiyi and saying, "You’ve practiced enough for today. You should head back now."

In that moment, Ye Shuang felt as though she had plunged to the bottom of a lake.

A flicker of ruthlessness passed through Liu Yiyi’s eyes. With things having escalated to this point, how could she let it go at that?

"Sister, you’re too much. She’s just a servant—why bother shielding her? The Marquis of Yongding is known for being fair in rewards and punishments. If you keep protecting her like this, how will the servants in the Marquis’s household be disciplined in the future?"

Ye Shuang replied, "There’s no need for Miss Liu to concern herself with that!"

Liu Yiyi retorted, "You!... Brother Lin, aren’t you going to do anything about this insolent servant?"

Ye Shuang glared fiercely at Xiao Lin, his face unreadable, his thoughts inscrutable.

"Wen Xiang has overstepped her bounds. Take her back to the manor and give her twenty strokes of the cane."

"You dare!" Ye Shuang trembled with rage.

Liu Yiyi added, "What? Only twenty strokes? Why not just sell her off?"

Ye Shuang glared furiously, but Liu Yiyi did not back down an inch, even seeming to gloat.

"Enough! A light punishment will suffice. You should head back now," Xiao Lin said, addressing Liu Yiyi.

"Fine! Brother Lin is still going easy on Sister Ye Shuang after all."

As the two prepared to leave, Xiao Yin moved to seize Wen Xiang.

Song Yun quickly stepped in to protect her.

Ye Shuang declared, "Let’s see who dares lay a hand on her! Xiao Lin, why is it that your guards can speak freely, but my maid says one word and must be caned!"

Wen Xiang knelt on the spot, sobbing uncontrollably. "My lady, it was my fault for speaking out of turn. I am willing to accept punishment. Please do not let this cause strife between you and the Marquis!"

"If you insist on punishing Wen Xiang, then punish me along with her!"

"Enough, Ye Shuang! Have you not made enough of a scene?" Xiao Lin called her by her full name. "I know you’re resentful about what happened today. I should have told you the truth, but I was afraid you would misunderstand and cause unnecessary trouble. Besides, I have neither acted improperly with her nor met her late at night. We were merely walking openly in the street in broad daylight—what is there to suspect? Enough. Considering it’s your birthday today, I will let this pass. Take your maid and return to the manor at once. Xiao Yin, escort the lady back."

Wen Xiang kowtowed repeatedly in gratitude, then hurried to help Ye Shuang to her feet.

Ye Shuang felt utterly exhausted, unwilling to stay a moment longer. She turned and boarded the carriage she had arrived in. Through a gap in the curtain, she caught a glimpse of Liu Yiyi smiling triumphantly, even reaching out to pull Xiao Lin’s sleeve.

Ye Shuang yanked the curtain shut, unable to bear another look. She felt her blood boil, her entire body trembling uncontrollably, even experiencing a wave of nausea.

Upon returning to the manor, Ye Shuang voluntarily confined herself to the rear courtyard. She refused to see Xiao Lin even when he came, stating only that she believed she had violated the seven grounds for divorce by giving in to jealousy. Fearful of incurring the Marquis’s disdain, she resolved to reflect on her actions behind closed doors.