Chapter 2

It was the lady of the house. Not the mother.

Prime Minister Pei’s expression stiffened momentarily before he shot a glare at his own son.

“Ruozhu…”

He turned as if to apologize to his newlywed wife, but Shen Ruozhu merely shook her head indifferently and smiled. Before the minister could speak, she beckoned to Qi Yunmiao, who was standing to the side.

“Miaomiao, come here!”

Qi Yunmiao obediently ran to her mother’s side.

“Miaomiao, this is Pei Ze, style name Jingxuan. From now on, he will be your elder brother. Go greet your brother.”

Shen Ruozhu introduced Pei Ze to Qi Yunmiao.

Following her mother’s prompt, Qi Yunmiao finally saw Pei Ze face to face for the first time.

This was the person who would become her stepbrother.

In the splendid hall lit by candlelight, the young boy stood quietly. Though only fourteen, he was already quite tall with a straight posture, exuding the spirit of pine and bamboo. His face was like white porcelain, beautifully structured, with still somewhat youthful eyebrows and eyes; yet his gaze carried a sharpness, a natural composure not belonging to someone so young.

Brother?

Qi Yunmiao studied him. Today, he wore white robes. To her, he seemed slender and tall, somewhat like a snow lotus that never melts on high mountains — difficult for ordinary people to approach.

This person would be her brother in the future?

Having been wild and alone at home before, Qi Yunmiao had no clear sense of what having a brother meant. But when she heard the word “lady,” she realized that Pei Ze was probably not easy to get along with.

Her mother told her to bow. Though reluctant, Qi Yunmiao could only obediently kneel and, still confused, called out, “Brother.”

But no one responded.

Pei Ze seemed not to notice her bow, turning instead to find a chair and sit down, showing no intention of speaking to her.

Silence filled the hall for a moment.

Finally, Pei Xiang couldn’t stand it anymore. He slammed the table, about to scold his son, but Shen Ruozhu gently placed her palm over his hand.

Before he could speak, she said, “The young master must be tired from studying today. The relationship between siblings will take time to build. Let’s have dinner first.”

Her voice was gentle and considerate.

Pei Xiang glanced at her twice and no longer dared to reprimand his own son in front of her.

Each member of the family sat together with their own thoughts, muddling through the dinner.

During the meal, Qi Yunmiao’s eyes darted about, looking here and there. Though it was her first time dining with the Pei family in the Prime Minister’s mansion, it was not her first time eating with the prime minister himself.

Qi Yunmiao still did not know how her mother originally met the current prime minister.

Back when they still lived in Shiqiao Alley, one day, she saw her mother return home accompanied by a brightly dressed man.

Her mother called him “Prime Minister,” so Qi Yunmiao followed suit.

After calling him that several times, the prime minister had eaten a few meals at their house and helped with some work. Within a few months, her mother asked if she wanted to move into the Prime Minister’s mansion.

At first, Qi Yunmiao was unwilling.

Her father had passed away less than a year ago, and her mother was remarrying so suddenly—it was all too abrupt.

But seeing her mother happy and relaxed with the prime minister, Qi Yunmiao was willing to accept anything as long as her mother was well.

After dinner, Qi Yunmiao finally had a moment alone with her mother.

Her mother escorted her back to the small courtyard, attended to her washing and bed as before.

But once the chores were done, her mother was about to leave.

Qi Yunmiao held her mother’s hands tightly, reluctant to let go. “Mother, will you really never sleep with me again from now on?”

Shen Ruozhu gently brushed her daughter’s hair.

At ten years old, Qi Yunmiao was at that soft, pliant age, her dark hair well cared for, like seaweed soaked in water.

“Of course not,” she replied warmly. “If one day you suddenly want me to sleep with you, I will come. But now you’re already ten, a young lady. You have to get used to sleeping by yourself, right?”

Qi Yunmiao nodded. “I can get used to it!”

Shen Ruozhu smiled and patted her daughter’s head again.

Her hands were soft and comforting. Though calloused slightly from embroidery and studying brushwork, it did not diminish Qi Yunmiao’s enjoyment.

Faced with her mother’s touch, Qi Yunmiao was quiet for a long while before murmuring, “Mother, I don’t really like this brother today.”

“Don’t like him?” Shen Ruozhu asked softly with concern. “Why?”

“He’s so cold and doesn’t seem to like me very much,” Qi Yunmiao said hesitantly. “...And mother…”

Shen Ruozhu fell silent.

The room grew quiet, only the shadows of bamboo swaying by the window.

After a moment, Shen Ruozhu said, “Miaomiao, don’t pay too much attention to your brother’s feelings. Whether he likes us or not, we will all live together in this mansion. If he can change his attitude toward us in the future, that would be good. But if not, we don’t have to force it. There’s no need to try to please anyone.”

No need to force, no need to try to please anyone?

Not even the prime minister?

Qi Yunmiao wanted to ask more, but Shen Ruozhu gently said, “Once I finish my recent affairs, I will find you a female master skilled in martial arts to continue your training, alright?”

“All right!”

Qi Yunmiao did not expect her mother to suddenly bring this up.

Her whole being brightened instantly.

Shen Ruozhu smiled and watched her daughter for a long moment.

But soon, she could no longer stay in Qi Yunmiao’s small courtyard. After tucking her into bed, she left.

Leaving Qi Yunmiao alone, lying on the bed, lost in thought.

It was Qi Yunmiao’s first night living in the Prime Minister’s mansion.

She tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

When she first moved to the capital with her mother, Qi Yunmiao also had trouble settling in, but with her mother by her side, she had quickly adapted to the bed in Shiqiao Alley.

Now without her mother’s company, even the comfortable bed in the mansion could not lull her to sleep.

Finally, when insomnia overwhelmed her, she got up, found the peachwood sword her father had made for her, hugged it tightly, and then slowly fell asleep.

—

Because she fell asleep late, Qi Yunmiao slept until the sun was high the next day before getting up.

When she rose, neither the prime minister nor her mother was home.

Madam Fang told her that the prime minister and lady had to return to their clan for some matters and would only be back by evening.

Qi Yunmiao nodded and sat in the courtyard eating the breakfast prepared by the servants.

The Prime Minister’s breakfast was indeed different from outside. Though the staple was plain porridge, there were over ten kinds of side dishes, from crisp shredded radish to appetizing pickled cucumbers, to delicate meat jerky and fragrant herbs — Qi Yunmiao was dazzled.

Though it was already late morning, with nothing urgent to do, Madam Fang did not rush her and let her eat slowly.

Halfway through, a young servant hurried to the courtyard and anxiously said, “Miss, why are you still having breakfast? The young master has been waiting in the flower hall for an hour!”

“What?” Madam Fang asked on her behalf. “What is the young master waiting for Miss for?”

“Before leaving this morning, the prime minister instructed that the young master should take Miss to the Song residence to begin her apprenticeship!”

“Oh no! This is terrible!”

Madam Fang clearly had forgotten about this matter.

She glanced at Qi Yunmiao still sitting at the table, quickly helped her fix her hair again, and urged, “Miss, you can’t eat now. You must hurry to the Song family!”

What Song family? What apprenticeship?

Qi Yunmiao felt completely lost.

Madam Fang led her toward the flower hall, explaining, “Before Miss entered the mansion, the prime minister discussed with the lady. Minister Song of the Ministry of Rites has a private academy, where the teacher is the famous Dr. Su from the Imperial Academy. Since Miss is now the daughter of the Prime Minister’s mansion, she can no longer study in the wild private academies outside. She must attend the best school in the capital!”

Wild private academies outside?

Qi Yunmiao was displeased upon hearing this.

Though her time at the outside private school was short, the teachers and classmates there were all excellent.

She wanted to say something more, but Madam Fang hurriedly pushed her into the flower hall.

“Young master,” she smiled apologetically, “Miss is ready. Please, young master, let’s go.”

This was Qi Yunmiao’s second time seeing Pei Ze.

She was caught off guard. Seeing him sitting upright in the chair as he had last night, she recalled her mother’s words and, standing up straight, respectfully gave him a formal bow.

“Brother,” she said.

Pei Ze’s eyelids twitched.

He put down the teacup and finally looked directly at Qi Yunmiao.

Unlike her mother, Qi Yunmiao’s youthful face was full of innocence and tenderness. At just over ten years old, her face was somewhat cute at first glance, but a closer look revealed no outstanding features beyond her translucent skin; she was not a natural beauty.

From last night until now, Pei Ze had shown little interest in this so-called stepsister.

Seeing that at least she was properly dressed, he stood and said, “Let’s go.”

Qi Yunmiao followed closely behind.

But after only a few steps, Pei Ze suddenly stopped, turned, and fixed his gaze on her.

Qi Yunmiao did not understand what she had done to displease her brother.

“Apprenticeship gifts,” Pei Ze asked slowly, “Should I bring them for you?”

Qi Yunmiao suddenly understood.

She looked around the room and found on the round table behind the chairs the gifts her mother and the prime minister had prepared for her long ago.

Proper apprenticeship required etiquette. Even when she went to the private school before, her mother had prepared everything needed to show respect to the teacher.

Qi Yunmiao struggled to pick up ten strips of meat jerky. Seeing that she could not carry the celery and lotus seeds, Madam Fang hurried to help, carrying everything to the carriage.

It took about half an hour to reach the Song residence.

The Prime Minister’s mansion had prepared two carriages: one for goods and one for passengers.

Pei Ze boarded the first carriage, while Qi Yunmiao, accompanied by Madam Fang, loaded the apprenticeship gifts into the second carriage. Then, looking around, she climbed into the second carriage by herself.

Madam Fang hurriedly tugged at her hem, reminding her, “That’s for the gifts. Miss, why sit with a pile of meat jerky?”

Otherwise, was she supposed to sit with the people in the front carriage?

Qi Yunmiao hurriedly shook her head, “Madam Fang, I like sitting like this. I’ll sit here, it’s fine.”

Madam Fang hesitated but ultimately allowed it.

Meanwhile, in the first carriage, no one boarded even after the wheels had started turning. Pei Ze finally lifted the curtain and glanced outside.

His knuckles bent slightly, his whole palm pure and flawless like a white jade.

The young servant riding alongside the carriage seemed to be a nervous worm in his belly and said, “Young master, Miss is sitting in the carriage behind.”

Pei Ze said nothing. After a brief moment of thought, he lowered the curtain as if nothing had happened.