Chapter 15: Xiao Yuan

As both families harbored their own thoughts, maintaining a peculiar peaceful coexistence, the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month arrived.

The vibrant Kyoto streets were adorned with colorful lanterns of various styles, dazzling and magnificent. The Xiao family also hung numerous lanterns along the corridor and tree branches—jade rabbit lanterns, butterfly lanterns, and more. Under the flickering candlelight, each lantern exuded a unique charm, making the scene breathtakingly beautiful.

The three elder brothers, who could not return home, didn’t forget their younger siblings. Each of them received a gift. Xiao Rui, Xiao Jun, and Xiao Qi each got a revolving lantern, while Xiao Yao received three exquisite small lanterns. Even the youngest sister in the Yi Garden wasn’t left out, receiving three lanterns as well. Xiao Rui shook his head in discontent, feeling the bias was excessive and lamenting the lower status of boys compared to girls in their family.

“You get to go out and play at night while your sisters have to stay home. If you want, you can stay home, and I’ll go buy you a few more lanterns,” Uncle Jingtai said, patting his nephew on the buttocks with a big hand.

“But Jun and Qi can’t go out either!” Xiao Rui protested.

“That’s because they’re too young. Next year’s Lantern Festival, they’ll be able to go. But Ping’an and your little sister will have to wait until they’re six or seven—or even older—before they can see the lantern festival. Understand?”

“Why?”

“Girls are different, of course. If you get bumped or bruised, it’s no big deal. But it’s not the same for them, especially for Ping’an, who is so pretty. How could she casually go out?”

So what you’re saying is, it doesn’t matter if we brothers get hurt or something happens to us, as long as Ping’an and little sister are fine? Uncle, are you comforting me or putting me down? Is this even how you console someone?

“Can you not say such things? Poor Xiao Rui feels terrible,” scolded Li Jiaoying angrily.

“I was just telling the truth!”

“Even if it’s the truth, you can’t say it outright. It’ll hurt his feelings—don’t you know that?”

Seeing Xiao Rui’s increasingly aggrieved expression, Xiao Jingkang found it amusing and couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

“Xiao Rui, go out tonight and ask your second uncle for whatever you like. If he dares not buy it for you, come back and tell me,” Xiao Jingkang said. Since his nephew had brightened his mood, it was only fair to make his second brother pay.

“Why me? I not only have to accompany him to play but also foot the bill. Big brother, this is so unfair,” Xiao Jingtai grumbled.

“If you want fairness, go talk to Father—or maybe the third brother,” Jingkang retorted.

Realizing it was futile, the disgruntled uncle and nephew headed out reluctantly.

Meanwhile, Xiao Jingkang bundled his daughter up tightly like a dumpling and personally carried her in his arms. The young masters were carried by the guards as they strolled around the estate. As for the Fang family? They were busy packing, preparing to move out the next day.

After the Lantern Festival, the Fang family moved out, and the second miss of the Yi Garden finally had her name officially decided. Her nickname, “Ruyi,” was specially chosen by General Xiao, who wrote from a thousand miles away. Her given name, “Xiao Yuan,” was selected by the third master.

Xiao Yao couldn’t help but wonder: If there’s another granddaughter, will Grandfather name her “Jixiang” (Auspicious)? Turns out, she guessed right. After the painful ordeal of naming the last time, General Xiao decided to only name his granddaughter’s nicknames this time. Both “Ruyi” and “Jixiang” were prepared, but since “Ruyi” sounded better, it went to Xiao Yuan based on the principle of first come, first served. “Jixiang” was reserved for the next granddaughter—talk about foresight.

Xiao Yuan was quickly growing chubby, almost catching up with her sixth brother, Xiao Qi. Round and plump, Yuan Yutong wanted to cut down her food intake. After all, the eldest miss was beautiful and slender, so the second miss couldn’t fall too far behind. But Xiao Yuan would cry loudly if deprived of even a bite. The usually decisive Yuan Yutong couldn’t withstand her daughter’s persistence and relented time and time again. It was hard not to laugh seeing her daughter happily full and cooing softly.

Xiao Yao, who could now walk briefly with support, approached her sister and gently touched the little one on the bed. Smooth and soft, she lightly patted her. “Good girl, be obedient. From now on, your sister will take care of you.” Being an elder sister felt wonderful—she already had a younger brother and now a younger sister, with protective brothers ahead and younger siblings following. Just thinking about it made her so happy.

Yuan Yutong glanced at Xiao Yao and then at her younger daughter, hoping the sisters would care for and love each other. Xiao Yao was a sensible and trustworthy child; now it depended on the younger one’s temperament.

As the weather grew warmer, Tong Mingyu stopped restricting her daughter. Xiao Yao was dressed up beautifully each day, led by her maid as she walked and played, often visiting the Yi Garden to see her sister. The Xiao family was wealthy, and Tong Mingyu was no less affluent, so Xiao Yao’s clothes were always made of the best materials and in the latest styles. Her jewelry filled two boxes—anything new and suitable for little girls was quickly added to her collection. Yuan Yutong watched the blossoming little beauty every day, feeling inwardly competitive. “Sister-in-law, you already have a daughter, yet you still want to show off like this?”

Xiao Yao often visited her sister after napping, a time when Xiao Yuan was usually awake and content. To foster a good bond, Yuan Yutong would place her daughter on the big bed, and Xiao Yao, after kicking off her shoes, would join her sister. With the poise of an elder sister, she’d pat and comfort her, sometimes sneakily poking her sister’s belly. Xiao Yuan didn’t resist; instead, she stretched out and let her sister do as she pleased. One willingly played, the other willingly complied. Yuan Yutong pretended not to see anything, reasoning that even a mother couldn’t deny her daughter such joy.

Xiao Yuan’s arrival brought joy to most of the family, except for her brother Xiao Rui, who was disappointed. All he wanted was a sister like Ping’an—so why didn’t his wish come true? Where did things go wrong? This little girl, increasingly resembling Xiao Qi in stature, didn’t feel like his sister at all. He wondered if he could swap her with Xiao Jun.

One day in Yi Garden, as the two sisters played on the bed, Xiao Rui quietly suggested to Xiao Jun about exchanging sisters. After bringing it up for the umpteenth time, Xiao Jun finally got angry, shook off his brother’s hand, and loudly declared, “No, no switch—bad!” He then stumbled over to the bed, pulling his sister and gesturing outside.

“What’s wrong, Xiao Jun? Did your brother bully you?” Yuan Yutong glared at her son, a mischievous and playful troublemaker who now seemed to have learned to bully his younger brother.

“What did you do to him, Xiao Rui?”

Caught red-handed, Xiao Rui couldn’t admit his plan and just grinned sheepishly, trying to deflect the situation. Hugging Xiao Jun’s shoulder, he winked repeatedly, signaling him not to spill the beans. If the truth came out, he’d surely be punished. His mother, a fierce warrior even his father couldn’t match, would ensure he wouldn’t get out of bed for days.

Sensing his mother’s growing anger, Xiao Jun stayed silent but kept holding his sister’s hand tightly. Ping’an was his and his parents’—she couldn’t be swapped. Almost one year old, Xiao Jun already knew who was dearest to him and who were just relatives. Ya Garden was his and his sister’s home; Yi Garden belonged to his fourth brother and their little sister.

Trying to cover his guilt, Xiao Rui leaned towards the bed. “Ruyi is becoming prettier—so fair and… um… delicate, isn’t she, Mother?” Inwardly, he thought, “She’s obviously just fair and chubby, but I can’t say that! If only I could praise Ping’an instead—she’s beautiful, clever, big-eyed, and fair. But I don’t dare say that aloud!”

If her son hadn’t suddenly praised her daughter, Yuan Yutong might’ve been left guessing. But now, everything was clear—her poor daughter had been rejected again. To have angered Xiao Jun and then resorted to falsely complimenting his sister—clearly, Xiao Rui hadn’t given up on the idea of swapping sisters.

“Hmph.”

Hearing his mother’s cold snort, Xiao Rui realized he was close to being disciplined.

“Xiao Rui, how about I take your sister to live with your father tomorrow and leave Yi Garden entirely to you?” Yuan Yutong’s voice was cool and indifferent.

“Mother, I was wrong! I won’t do it again. Please don’t take my sister away,” Xiao Rui quickly bowed in apology.

“Gurgle, gurgle!” Xiao Yuan laughed aloud, her eyes squinting into slits as she flailed her arms and legs. Her chubby belly, arms, and legs jiggled with her laughter.

Yuan Yutong couldn’t help but burst into laughter herself. Her daughter was laughing out loud now—and at such a moment! Xiao Rui, you looked down on her, but she turned the tables on you. See? Karma comes around eventually.